GAME NOTES

HUNTINGTON, W.V. – Tempo will be at issue Saturday night as Northwestern State squares off against a defensive-oriented Marshall team that has held its first two opponents under 50 points.
 
The Demons (2-1) and the Thundering Herd (2-0) tip off at 7 p.m. EST at the Cam Henderson Center, where Marshall has beaten Jacksonville State 58-44 last Sunday two days after whipping Alabama State 67-49. Northwestern won 67-60 Thursday night at Alabama State to start the five-day, three-game road trip.
 
Junior guard Shamir Davis, whose 27-point outburst keyed the victory at Alabama State, tops NSU with a 14.7 average through three games and is shooting 57 percent from the floor, and 16 of 21 inside the 3-point arc. Newcomer Gary Roberson, a junior forward, is next scoring 12.7 points and has hit 58 percent of his shots, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.
 
Senior center William Mosley is averaging 8.7 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks per game. The Demons have held their opponents to 37 percent shooting aim but have made only 55 percent of their free throws.
 
Marshall junior forward Robert Goff, last year's junior college national rebounding leader,  is averaging 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds. DeAndre Kane, a member of the preseason all-Conference USA First Team after winning CUSA Freshman of the Year in 2010-11, is averaging 10.5 points and 5 rebounds. The sophomore guard also has 11 assists and six steals. Junior forward Dennis Tinnon is shooting 70 percent  from the field for an average of 9.0 points and 9.0 rebounds.
 
The Herd reached postseason last year under first-year coach Tom Herrion, going 22-12 and playing in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. They are a consensus pick to finish second in the 12-team CUSA race this year behind Memphis.
 
The contest is part of the Global Sports Challenge event, with NSU heading to No. 20 Cincinnati for a Monday night contest and playing host to Jacksonville State next Friday night in Prather Coliseum.
 
Due to a conflict with the NSU-Stephen F. Austin football game Saturday, the matchup will not be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network. It will be streamed live on Marshall All-Access by going to HerdZone.com website, where Gametracker will also be available.