NORMAN, Okla. – Northwestern State has one of college basketball's most accomplished point guards.


No. 17 Oklahoma's point guard is the talk of college hoops right now.


Tuesday's NSU at Oklahoma matchup goes a lot deeper than any individual matchup between Demons senior Jalan West and Sooners freshman Trae Young, but they will be the spotlight players in the 6 p.m. contest televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.


West ranks in the top 20 of nine different NCAA career statistical categories and is the national leader in career assists (672). The 5-11 seventh-year senior leads NSU with a 13.3 scoring average, has a 28-7 ratio of assists to turnovers in six games, and is making 45 percent of his 3-pointers.


Young is the nation's top scorer with a 28.8 average and is in the top five in assists per game (8.9). He has sparked OU (8-1) to six straight wins, the latest a 91-83 victory Saturday at No. 3-ranked Wichita State.


West poured in a season-best 24 points Saturday, adding five assists and four steals, and has only one turnover in his last two games. 


He wasn't able to lead NSU to a win, however, with LSU Shreveport, the NAIA's second-ranked team, scoring the last five points for the 15^th lead change in an 85-84 victory in Shreveport's Gold Dome.


NSU junior center Ishmael Lane had his second straight double-double performance (17 points, 11 rebounds) and is averaging 11 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds. Senior swingman Iziahiah Sweeney is contributing 10.6 points per game.


The Demons committed only seven turnovers, a season low, against the Pilots in a fast-paced game, posting a season best total for the third straight outing. Taking care of the ball will be critical against an Oklahoma team averaging over 91 points per game.


"We've gotten progressively better in not committing turnovers and that will be put to the test Tuesday night," said 19^th-year Demons' coach Mike McConathy. "We played at a fast pace Saturday but we'll see a different level of defensive pressure from Oklahoma."


NSU will be playing its penultimate non-conference contest. The Demons will fly to Salt Lake City Wednesday morning to visit Utah (7-3) Wednesday night in their final outing until Southland Conference action begins Dec. 28 at Nicholls.