MONROE -- The Northwestern State men's basketball team took its largest breather of the season so far, getting three days of rest before heading to UL Monroe on Tuesday.
 
The 7 p.m. game is NSU's fifth in 11 days as the Demons (0-4) seek their first win of the season facing a Warhawks' team (1-2) that scored its first victory against Southeastern on Thursday.
 
NSU showed promise in an 87-65 loss to Rice on Friday, slicing the Owls' lead to six early in the second half before the Owls quickly tripled the lead with deadly 3-point shooting by the 11-minute mark.
 
That game also marked the return of point guard Jalan West, whom NSU coach Mike McConathy said is fitting back in nicely with the fourth-youngest team in the nation. West played 27 minutes, producing four points, four rebounds and four assists.
 
"We've struggled obviously in a lot of areas so far, and we haven't played with much confidence," McConathy said. "But we did play with confidence in our (preseason) scrimmages and the exhibition against Grambling, and in time, we'll learn mix it all together.
 
"Everyone is getting a feel for him and where to go, what to do. We've taken some hard knocks, but we're aiming to improve over the long term in time for Southland Conference play on Dec. 28."
 
Practice time to target improvement areas is critical for a team that features six freshmen and two transfers.
 
Two anchors have been senior guard Iziahiah Sweeney (11 points, five rebounds) and junior forward Ishmael Lane (eight points and five rebounds).
 
Fellow senior Devonte Hall showed signs of breaking out of his early-season slump with 13 points Friday.
 
"One of the reasons it takes so long for us to improve is because we play so many players," McConathy said. "We don't come around quickly, but we're playing now to be our best in the conference season.
 
"The downside is when you play a team coach by Keith Richard, he tends to find your weaknesses. He's probably the most underestimated game coach in the country, and he does a phenomenal job in preparing his teams to play."
 
ULM features five players who average double figures in points, but the rest of the team contributes just 13 points per game on a squad that averages 75 points per game.
 
The Warhawks give up 80 per contest, still less than NSU's 93 allowed per game.