NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State's surge down the stretch, with nine wins in the last 11 games, began at Central Arkansas seven weeks ago, and it's a suddenly hot UCA squad that tips off the Demon basketball team's last homestand of the season with a pivotal Southland Conference contest Thursday night at 7:30 in Prather Coliseum.

Northwestern (14-13 overall, 10-6 in the Southland) has secured a spot in next week's Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas, and is trying to earn at least a first-round bye with a sweep of UCA and Saturday's visitor, Oral Roberts. Central Arkansas (8-19, 5-11) hopes to rally into the eight-team tournament bracket after sweeping two home games last week, knocking Sam Houston State out of second in the standings with an 80-71 upset before beating Lamar 76-69.

Bears senior guard LaQuentin Miles is the reigning Southland Conference "Player of the Week" for averaging 26.5 points and 13 rebounds, sinking 61 percent of his shots, in those wins. He took over first in the conference scoring race by raising his average to 22.9 overall, and his 7.3 rebounding average is sixth in the conference.

The Demons outscrapped the Bears 76-68 on Jan. 23 in Conway, Ark., to begin a six-game winning streak.

"They are an extremely talented team that has had a lot of moving parts this season for various reasons, but last week's performance speaks for itself. They're dangerous and they have a lot to play for," said 15^th-year NSU coach Mike McConathy. "We've played very well since we played them the first time, but we still have to get better to be the team we want to be next week in the most important games of the year. We would really benefit by earning the bye in the tournament and we need to win to do that."

NSU is tied for fourth with Oral Roberts, which plays at regular-season champion Stephen F. Austin Thursday night. The Demons rank in the NCAA's team top 11 in scoring (85.7, second), steals (9.1, sixth) and assists (16.4, 11^th), and in the top 50 in turnover margin (3.0, 25th), blocked shots (5.4, 28th) and free throw percentage (73.5, 46^th). They have risen to 61^st nationally in field goal aim (46.7 percent) while shooting 53.9 percent (95-176) in the last three games.

Switching to primarily zone defenses for the first time in McConathy's tenure has been pivotal in the Demons' midseason turnaround. Eight of the last 11 opponents have shot no better than 40 percent against Northwestern.

The Demons are triggered by Southland "Player of the Year" candidate Jalan West, the sophomore who is the only player in the country to average at least 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals. The next closest player in that class is Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart.

West (18.6 points per game, fourth in the Southland) is one of just two players in the NCAA top 10 in assists (6.6, eighth) and steals (2.7, fifth). The 5-10 point guard, who leads the league with his 87 percent free throw rate, is three steals away from tying NSU's single-season steals record (76) after missing it by one last year as he won league "Freshman of the Year" and "All-Defensive Team" honors.

Four more Demons are among Southland leaders. Senior forward DeQuan Hicks is ninth in scoring (15.4), fifth in rebounding (7.4), ninth in steals (1.5) and 20^th in assists (2.6). Senior guard Brison White is 16^th in scoring (13.6) and 17^th in steals (1.3). Freshman Zeek Woodley (13.4, 18^th in scoring) leads the league and is fifth in the NCAA in field goal percentage (62.0) while ranking sixth in the Southland with his 81.3 percent free throw aim. NSU junior center Marvin Frazier tops the conference with 2.0 blocked shots per game.

Thursday's game follows a 5:30 women's contest and the 3 p.m. LSU at Northwestern baseball game. All ticket holders from the baseball game can use their ducats for free admission to the basketball games.

The NSU-UCA men's contest will be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 KZBL FM in Natchitoches and including 92.1 KSYR FM in Shreveport, and 99.9 KTEZ FM in Many. Free audio and pay-per-view streaming video is available at NSUDemons.com online.

Saturday's regular-season finale against Oral Roberts is "Senior Day" and "Basketball Reunion Day" with an 11:30 luncheon for basketball program participants, followed by the 1 p.m. women's matchup and a 3 p.m. tip for the men's contest in Prather Coliseum. Hicks, White, Patrick Robinson and Gary Stewart are the Demons' four 2013-14 seniors.