NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State isn't playing name-brand opponents for a while, but that doesn't lessen the sense of urgency for the young Demon basketball team heading into a home game Wednesday night.
 
"We need to get a win. We're 0-2 at home, and that's unacceptable," said 19^th-year coach Mike McConathy, looking forward to the 6:30 contest Wednesday at Prather Coliseum against Lyon College.
 
It's the first of three straight outings against lower-division foes for the Demons, who next play Dec. 9 at Rapides Parish Coliseum against Louisiana College in the NSU Cenla Showcase, then go to the Gold Dome in Shreveport Dec. 16 to face LSU Shreveport in the second annual Shreveport-Bossier Holiday Classic.
 
NSU is 1-5, including a 99-84 homecourt defeat Nov. 12 to Division III LeTourneau. Lyon is 1-6 but won its last outing, beating the University of St. Francis.
 
"We're already struggled with one lower-division school," said McConathy, "so we're hopefully aware that labels are meaningless. Lyon runs a triangle offense, and when they came in here the last time three years ago, we had a fit with that. We've got to be prepared for that, make adjustments and come play basketball."
 
The Scots were stout foes Nov. 17, 2014 in Prather Coliseum before NSU prevailed 75-64.
 
The Demons finished a season-opening blur of six games in 14 days on Friday night in Fort Collins, Colo., bowing 72-60 at Colorado State. That came three days after NSU was dominant on the road in Monroe, posting a 76-61 victory over UL Monroe.
 
"We learned when we compete together, and play hard together, we can do really good things," said McConathy. "Defensively at ULM, we were very good and we got contributions from everybody."

Along with winning Wednesday, McConathy has objectives in mind for the near future as he develops the fourth-youngest team in major college basketball, one with six true freshmen who have been in the 12-man rotation.
 
"Understanding what our roles are individually, knowing what I need to do and need not to do, is paramount for us to continuing to make progress.
 
"We're got to practice to see the growth. We've had two practices this week coming into Wednesday's game, but it's the work we'll get in practice over the next three weeks that can really benefit us," he said.
 
The Demons have gotten steady scoring from senior swingman Iziahiah Sweeney (11.7 per game). Senior point guard Jalan West averaged 14.5 last week at ULM and Colorado State in only his second and third games back from a two-year hiatus due to knee surgeries. West is the NCAA leader among active players with 625 career assists.
 
Lyon's top scorer is Emir Sabic at 13.6 per game, fueled by 24 made 3-point baskets.