NATCHITOCHES – Two teams that reached the 2013 college basketball postseason, but are mired in early-season skids despite high-ranking national statistics, collide in an intersectional matchup Saturday as Niagara, with the nation's leading scorer, visits Northwestern State at 3 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.

The Purple Eagles (1-5) feature 6-5 junior guard Antoine Mason, scoring 31.3 points per game. Mason scored 20 last Feb. 23 as Niagara went on a second-half tear, sinking 80 percent overall (20-25) and on 3-pointers (8-10) while stretching a 44-43 lead into a late 89-66 advantage in a 92-76 triumph over the visiting Demons in a Ramada WorldWide BracketBusters matchup on ESPN3.

Niagara played in the 2013 NIT while Northwestern reached the NCAA Tournament. The Demons (2-3) have dropped their last three after blowing by Auburn 111-92, most recently getting blown out 105-74 Wednesday night at Louisiana-Lafayette. The Purple Eagles have lost four in a row, the latest an 85-66 loss Tuesday night at Penn.

Fans who bring a non-perishable canned food item can get a general admission ticket for $4.

The Demons have struggled rebounding and on shooting 3-pointers, but rank among the nation's best in forcing turnovers, making steals and blocking shots, while playing at the fastest pace (84.5 possessions per game) in the country. NSU has been outrebounded by an average of 12 per game, and outside of its 14 of 27 performance at Auburn, has made only 17 percent of its 3-point tries, including 4 of 25 in the loss at UL-Lafayette.

NSU is second nationally by forcing 21.2 turnovers per game, fifth with 11 steals per game, and 10th by averaging 7.6 blocks per game.

Sophomore point guard Jalan West tops four double-digit scorers for the Demons with his 17.6 scoring average, followed by freshman guard Zikiteran "Zeek" Woodley at 13.8, senior forward DeQuan Hicks at 13.6 and senior guard Brison White at 13.2. NSU is 28th nationally with 86.2 points per game.

Freshman forward Ramone Snowden is Niagara's only other double-figure point producer with a 12.0 average, including 18.5 in the last two games against Western Carolina and Penn. Senior guard Marvin Jordan scored his 1,000th career point earlier this month.

The game will be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network's flagship station, 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches, along with 99.9 KTEZ FM in Many. Free audio will be streamed at the NSUDemons.com website where a pay-per-view video option is also available.

The contest is the final home appearance for NSU for two weeks, until a Dec. 14 game against Louisiana College. Before then, the Demons go to nationally-ranked Memphis next Saturday and visit old rival Louisiana Tech on Dec. 11.