MONROE – For the first time in five years, Northwestern State tips off against old rival Louisiana-Monroe in men's basketball Thursday night as the Demons resume their schedule following final exams by visiting Fant-Ewing Coliseum to take on the struggling Warhawks.
 
Tipoff is 7 p.m. between the Demons (4-5) and the Warhawks (1-9). Northwestern will open a stretch of three games in five days and four in seven days, capped by a contest against No. 18 Mississippi State, sandwiched with the visit to ULM by home games Saturday afternoon against Missouri Valley and Monday night against Central Methodist.
 
NSU has not played since a double overtime 94-93 loss on a banked 3-pointer at the buzzer at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 6. ULM lost a 73-71 decision three nights earlier at home to Louisiana Tech, which started an ongoing three-game losing skid.
 
The Warhawks fell at home Monday night 82-70 to Nicholls, after drubbing the Colonels by 86-65 on Nov. 28. Last Saturday night, ULM played respectably in a 67-54 defeat at No. 22 Texas A&M.
 
“We're very pleased to resume a series with ULM that has a lot of history and again, helps stimulate interest in college basketball around our state,” said 13^th-year Demons coach Mike McConathy. “It's possible because (ULM second-year head coach) Keith Richard understands the value of games like this. For our team, any time you come off a long break you are hopeful you won't have lost too much flow and chemistry, but one thing's for sure, we'll have enough games to get that back in the coming days.”
 
Northwestern is topped by junior point guard Shamir Davis' 12.9 scoring average, built largely on two career outings (28 points at Louisiana Tech, 27 at Alabama State). Junior forward James Hulbin has surged up to second on the scoring chart with a 10.1 average.
 
Senior center William Mosley ranks second nationally in blocked shots (4.3 per game) and is 15^th nationally with his 10.7 rebounding average.
 
ULM's top two scorers, Fred Brown (13.8) and Charles Winborne, come off the bench.
 
The game will be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches and including 92.1 KSYR FM in Shreveport and 99.9 KTEZ FM in Many.