HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Northwestern State basketball team, which has ranked among national scoring leaders most of this decade, is redefining its identity out of necessity.
 
The young, short-handed Demons are much more patient and defensive-oriented. Wednesday night, they'll line up against a Southland Conference foe who has used that approach for many years.
 
NSU visits Sam Houston State at 6:30 Wednesday evening at SHSU's Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats are a half-game out of first in the conference standings, with an overall 10-8 record and 4-1 in league play.
 
The Demons (3-13, 0-5) are the nation's fifth-youngest team with only one senior and eight newcomers (nine counting walk-on Cameron Lazare, who just wrapped up his Demon football career). After adjusting to their new style following a blowout loss in the league opener Dec. 28, NSU has been in range of winning each of the past four games, including a loss at the buzzer at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
"We're getting in position to win because the players are allowing themselves to be coached, and they're giving us great effort," said 19^th-year Demons coach Mike McConathy. "We're not enjoying the outcomes, obviously, but we are enjoying the process and we're progressing in the right direction."
 
In league play, the Demons have been led by junior center Ishmael Lane, averaging 14.8 points and a Southland-best 10.2 rebounds after his 22-point, 17-rebounding performance last Saturday against Abilene Christian. Senior swingman Iziahiah Sweeney is scoring 12.8 per game.
 
The Demons aren't shooting well, making only 37 percent overall, 30 percent on 3-pointers and 52 percent at the free throw line. They have handled the ball much better after the league opener, making 57 turnovers (14.3 per game) to 64 (16 pg) by their opponents.
 
NSU will face two of its toughest tests this week on the road, visiting Sam Houston and on Saturday, playing at another championship contender, Southeastern Louisiana.
 
The Bearkats have won their last four games and lead the Southland in scoring margin in conference play (plus 11.8) Sam Houston is averaging 80.4 points in league action with junior Marcus Harris's 16.2 average pacing the team. Junior point guard John Dewey shares the league lead at 5.4 assists per game in conference games.
 
Wednesday's game will be carried by the Demon Sports Network flagshipped by 100.7 KZBL FM and including KWLA FM (103.1) in Anacoco, with a free audio stream at NSUDemons.com as Patrick Netherton calls the action. A scheduled ESPN3 telecast has been cancelled due to crew issues related to the weather.
 
NSU will play at home twice next week, Jan. 24 and 27.