ALEXANDRIA – When the Northwestern State Demons take the court Saturday afternoon at Rapides Parish Coliseum in the NSU Cenla Showdown, coach Mike McConathy isn't sure what to expect.
 
Between taking time off for final exams, and getting rest and recovery from a demanding 18 days beginning the season, the Demons will play for the first time in 10 days when they line up against old rival Louisiana College.
 
Tip time is 4 p.m. on the back side of a doubleheader starting with the Lady Demons at 2 o'clock playing host to Texas Southern. Tickets, priced from $5-15, will be available at the door.
 
NSU (2-5) squeezed in only a scattering of practice sessions in between game action during the first two-plus weeks of the season. After dispatching Lyon 67-56 on Nov. 29 for their second victory in three tries, the Demons got a few days off and have only practiced as a team in the past two days this week. 
 
"Too much time off is not a good thing ever, because you get out of the rhythm of things you're doing, but at the same time, at the frenetic pace we played at in the first 14 days, honestly, everybody needed a break," said McConathy. "I know we'll be eager to play a game. Hopefully we can come out and play well."
 
The Demons and Wildcats have met in basketball since the third recorded season in Northwestern history, 1914-15, even before Louisiana Normal had adopted "Demons" as its mascot. While LC (0-4) has played at a lower division than the Demons for nearly the last half-century, the programs have maintained a friendly rivalry despite taking different paths.
 
"A chance to play Louisiana College, in a series with the history between our schools going back for over a century, is always good," said McConathy. "(Wildcats head coach) Reni Mason's a dear friend and a very good coach. Then you go back to (former coach) Gene Rushing, who was there for many years, and Billy Allgood, the dean of coaches, a true legend of Louisiana basketball."
 
Allgood, a 1999 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee who coached basketball at LC from 1959-85 and baseball from 1966-96, will be honored on the court just before Saturday lineups are introduced.

This will be the first NSU game in Alexandria-Pineville since 1982. Three years ago, the Demons won 89-79 at Lecompte over LSU Alexandria.
 
The Demons and Wildcats have played in each of the past four seasons, all in Prather Coliseum, with NSU prevailing 86-66 last season and 86-80 two years ago.
 
"We've got to defend. Offensively we've got to be ready for what they throw at us," said McConathy. "They've run some zone and we've been inconsistent against it, very good at UL Monroe, not so good against Rice, so we need to be better."
 
While using 12 players in the first half of each game, the nation's fourth-youngest NCAA Division I team already has eight Demons who have scored in double digits at least once. Seniors Iziahiah Sweeney (11.0) and Jalan West (10.5) are the scoring average leaders.
 
The Wildcats are getting 15.5 points per game, on 65 percent aim, from Devon Washington while Lashard Powell is averaging 13.3 per contest. LC is playing the game as an exhibition.
 
Presenting sponsors of the NSU Cenla Showdown include Hixson Autoplex, Real Vision Software/Monty Chicola, O'Quin Financial Group/Greg O'Quin, Roy O. Martin Lumber Company, and Tunk's Cypress Inn/Jimbo Thiels. Holiday Inn Downtown/Jay and Laryn Sharplin and The Levee Restaurant/Ben and Keri Fidelak are also presenting sponsors.
 
A pregame tailgate gathering is set for Spirits Food & Friends, a five-minute drive from the coliseum. A $15 fee includes food and two drinks at the function, hosted by the NSU Alumni Association.
 
NSU will have another week's break before visiting Shreveport's Gold Dome next Saturday at 5 to meet LSU Shreveport in the Shreveport-Bossier Holiday Classic.