FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Two young college basketball teams hungry for early-season success collide Friday night when Northwestern State visits Colorado State.

The Demons, coming off a slump-busting 76-61 victory Tuesday night at UL Monroe, are 1-4. The Rams (2-3) have dropped three straight, including an 89-76 decision Wednesday night at New Mexico State, after opening with a pair of homecourt wins.

Tip time is 8 p.m. CST from storied Moby Arena. The game will be televised on the Mountain West Network. Radio coverage on the Demon Sports Network will be originated from 97.5 FM KDBH in Natchitoches, also available at NSUDemons.com and BDCRadio.com, with Patrick Netherton calling the action.

Both teams are newcomer-laden. NSU has eight newcomers, including six true freshman, making the Demons the fourth-youngest team in the country. Colorado State isn't far behind with seven newcomers.

"They're very, very talented and extremely well coached, especially tough at home. They have some really nice pieces," said 19^th-year Demons coach Mike McConathy. "Larry Eustachy's teams are always good rebounders. Their bigs are athletic, the guards do a great job passing and cutting to the basket. They're a halfcourt team and very, very tough."

NSU, using a rotation of 12 players, has three scoring in double figures:  senior 6-4 swingman Iziahiah Sweeney (11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds per game), senior 5-11 point guard Jalan West (10 points, 4.0 assists pg) and junior 6-8 center Ishmael Lane (10 ppg, 6.0 rpg).

Colorado State also has three double-digit scorers, led by 6-1 junior guard at Prentiss Nixon at 15 per game. Che Bob (6-6 senior) averages 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while Deion James (6-8 sophomore) is scoring 10.2 per game.

The Rams have three starters back from a 24-12 NIT team last year.

McConathy, much encouraged by the Demons' performance and intensity in Tuesday's win, wants more of the same.

"We need to be just as hungry in Fort Collins as we were in Monroe," he said.

"We moved the ball extremely well, but more importantly, we got on top defensively and put on a lot of pressure. We had good play from a lot of guys, with Ishmael Lane, Jalan West, Devonte Hall and Iziahiah Sweeney having the big numbers, but it was definitely a total team effort. Everybody who hit the floor, a dozen Demons, made positive impact.

"We really competed well, competed hard, and as I like to say, pulled for one another, cared for one another, loved one another. The feeling was there from pregame warmups on, and it carried forward. There's a very positive vibe around this team with guys who are totally invested in each other and what we're doing," he said.

The Demons wrap up a challenging stretch of six season-opening games in 14 days with the contest. They come home to play Wednesday night against Lyon College, and then don't play again until games Dec. 9 at Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria against Louisiana College and Dec. 16 at the Gold Dome in Shreveport against LSU Shreveport.