By: Doug Ireland, Sports Information Director
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Northwestern State, riding a two-game win streak, faces its biggest challenge in five seasons Friday night at 7 when the Demons take on unbeaten, 13th-ranked Missouri at Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers (6-0) are the highest-ranked opponent for the Demons (4-3) since NSU visited No. 8 Marquette in an 83-67 defeat on Dec. 1, 2006. NSU is aiming for its second-ever victory over a ranked foe, following the March 17, 2006 first-round NCAA Tournament triumph over No. 15 Iowa.
The game will be televised by Fox Sports Midwest (DirecTV channel 671, Dish Network 418, and AT&T Uverse 748) and available on EPSN3.com and ESPN Full Court on DirecTV channel 722. It will also be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network, with 100.7 FM KZBL of Natchitoches as the flagship and including 92.1 KSYR FM in Shreveport and 99.9 KTEZ FM in Many.
NSU is coming off its best game of the season, a not-that-close 80-65 romp past 2011 NCAA Tournament entry Arkansas-Little Rock. The Demons led by 26 on three occasions in the second half and ran the shot clock down to the final seconds in the last four minutes, not scoring after leading 80-55.
The Demons posted their best shooting stats this season, hitting 45.5 percent from the field, making 38 percent (8-21) on 3-pointers, and sinking 71 percent of their free throws.
“We took good shots. We worked hard to get the ball in the right positions, and we made good decisions,” said 13th-year head coach Mike McConathy.
Junior forward James Hulbin sank 5 of 7 on 3-pointers while coming off the bench to post a career-high 20 points in 17 minutes. Senior guard Louis Ellis had a second straight good shooting night with 11 points and has hit 9 of his last 14 tries.
Junior guard Shamir Davis continues to be the Demons' only double-digit scorer with 12.3 points per game. Senior center William Mosley is averaging 9.9 rebounds and 4.3 blocks.
Matching up against Missouri is a big challenge, said McConathy.
“(Coach) Frank Haith has them playing very well. They are as athletic and active as we may have seen in my time here,” said McConathy. “But we're long and active ourselves. If we will be mentally and physically tough, and make good decisions with the ball and play aggressively like we have recently on defense, we hopefully can make it interesting.”
The Demons are averaging 8.4 blocks and 9.6 steals per game, ranking high nationally in both categories.
