NATCHITOCHES – When the Northwestern State basketball team resumes its season Sunday at 4 in Prather Coliseum, the Demons will aim for their third straight win in their final non-conference outing of the season.

But NSU (4-8) will also be working through a personnel shortage at point guard, thanks to a shoulder injury sidelining sophomore starter C.J. Jones, as it tips off against Champion Christian.

Jones, who has started 30 straight games, was hurt Dec. 18 in an 84-64 win over Louisiana College. He may be sidelined 1-3 weeks.

Sophomore transfer John Norvel, who has been backing up Jones, will be the replacement but NSU coach Mike McConathy will count on two other newcomers, LaTerrance Reed and Brian White, to contribute. Reed has played shooting guard for the Demons in his first year at NSU while White, a highly-accomplished point guard at Natchitoches Central High School, has played only 11 minutes in a Dec. 1 contest at Texas-El Paso before reaggravating an Oct. 29 ankle injury.

"John Norvel has done a good job for us there. He's tough and knows the game," said McConathy. "LaTerrance Reed played point guard in junior college, and we're very hopeful Brian White can get back on the court and help us.

"There's no remedy for lack of experience, but he's played at a very successful, high-level high school program and was so well coached by Micah Coleman. He's been in big games, and he's a smart player and a great competitor, so you know if anybody can do it, Brian White can."

Sunday afternoon's game will be the first action in 12 days for NSU and the last of six in December. It will be the precursor for the Demons' Southland Conference season, which opens with three straight home games beginning Wednesday at 6:30 against Nicholls.

"The break was very much needed," said McConathy. "We played 13 games since November 6, and there wasn't a lot of practice time between most of those games. We shot the ball well for the first five games, but then we were overmatched, had a lack of confidence and most of all had very few opportunities to practice without having to prepare for an opponent.

"There were areas where we really got better and some players who began making strides before Christmas. We had really good halves against Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Those games showed us, the ability to start the game with focus is very critical. Taking care of the ball, not turning it over, is vital. When we were focused, when we had only 3-4 turnovers in a half, we competed very well against two teams that were playing late last March."

Champion Christian (5-6), which lost Saturday at Lamar, will play the game as an exhibition. .

Senior center Ishmael Lane's averages of 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds pace the Demons. Senior guard DeAndre Love's 8.8 scoring average is next, followed by Reed's 7.6. Before cruising past a 7-1 Louisiana College team, NSU rallied by Southern 69-66 in the Shreveport-Bossier Holiday Classic.
Sunday's game will be only the fifth home appearance for NSU, 3-1 in Prather Coliseum.

After hosting Nicholls Wednesday evening, NSU is home next Saturday at 3 against McNeese and on Jan. 9 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Demons play five of their first seven conference games in Prather Coliseum.