NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State couldn't dig in defensively without injured senior point guard Jalan West setting the tone, and the Demons suffered a stinging defeat as a result.
 
LSU Alexandria, which came in shooting 58 percent on free throws, drained an incredible 36 of 41 from the line and shot 64 percent from the floor after halftime to post a 99-97 upset Monday night at Prather Coliseum.
 
It was NSU's first loss in 10 games to a non-Division I opponent, dating back to 2011. LSUA played in the NAIA Tournament last season.
 
West, the NCAA Division I career leader in assists who topped the nation with a 7.7 average last season while scoring 20 points per game, was out with a knee injury suffered in the final minute of Friday's loss at Ole Miss. He scored 25 points and had six assists Friday and was named Southland Conference Player of the Week Monday.
 
NSU compensated offensively as Zeek Woodley, the junior guard who is the nation's leading returning scorer (22.2 per game last year), poured in a career-best 39. It was the most by a Demon in 21 years, since Larry Terry scored 39 for the fifth-best single-game total in school history. Woodley made 14 of 19 shots and tied a school record with 10 of 10 aim at the free throw line, adding a team-best eight rebounds.
 
Stepping into West's role running the offense was his former Bossier High teammate, sophomore Devonte Hall, who posted career highs with 16 points and 11 assists, while making no turnovers.
 
"Zeek Woodley is an incredible talent," said Demons' coach Mike McConathy. "Devonte Hall had a special game – no turnovers -- stepping in to run our offense. Sabri Thompson (16 points) stepped up like we knew he would. Our problems weren't on offense, other than missing more free throws than we're used to missing (shooting 24-36)."
 
But when the Demons didn't have the ball, the Generals had their way without West on the court setting the tone. Until the closing minutes, NSU was disjointed, particularly on defense.
 
"We played for a long while like we were in a fog, like there had been a death in the family. It really showed up defensively," said McConathy. "They got far too many easy baskets because we just lost people again and again and again. They're well coached and they took advantage of what we gave them.
 
"They had an incredible night shooting free throws. They got far too many opportunities there mostly because we weren't alert defensively."
 
There were 15 lead changes and seven ties. LSUA never trailed in the final 8:06 and benefitted from a hotly contested foul on Hall with 1:16 remaining. He appeared to create a held ball with a block of an LSU jump shot, but was hit with the foul. The Demon bench drew a technical foul in the aftermath when they apparently didn't sit down quickly enough after being directed to do so. Deangelo Coleman hit four free throws to push the Generals to a 96-89 advantage and NSU never had possession after with a chance to tie.
 
Coleman scored 22, hitting 8 of 10 at the line, topping four LSUA players in double figures. Gilbert Talbot added 19 points, draining all 11 of his free throws, while Darius Johnson scored 17 and DeQuavious Wagner added 11.
 
NSU fell despite making 51 percent of its shots and making only 10 turnovers, while beating LSUA 36-31 on the boards. The visitors finished at 54 percent shooting overall.
McConathy, who should get definitive word on West's status Tuesday after an MRI on his injured left knee, said NSU failed to adjust quickly enough.
 
"We had one practice since Friday, due to the NCAA rule requiring a day off each week, to begin adjusting to being without Jalan, and we looked unsure of ourselves in a lot of ways."
 
The Demons play UL Monroe at home Thursday night at 6:30.