NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State's Ishmael Lane and Southeastern Louisiana's Marlain Veal were both preseason first-team All-Southland Conference basketball selections.

Lane, a 6-8 forward/center, and Veal, a 5-9 guard, won't be going nose-to-nose in Saturday afternoon's Southland Conference basketball matchup at Prather Coliseum. While their production will be key in the Demons-Lions contest at 3 p.m., NSU coach Mike McConathy is hoping the rest of the Demons can follow Lane's lead.

Wednesday night, the Demons' standout scored 19 points while snatching a career-best 19 rebounds, the most by any Southland player this season and the highest total for a Demon since 1994. It's the 19^th best total by any college player this year.

Lane added five blocked shots, matching his career high. But he outrebounded his teammates, who collected 16 rebounds among them, in a 78-64 loss to league-leading Sam Houston State, the only team unbeaten in Southland Conference play.

"Ish was at full throttle, not only with his production but with his intensity and focus," said McConathy. "What we need is for everybody to bring that approach Saturday because we're playing a Southeastern team that has as much front-line talent and good coaching as anyone in the league."

Veal, averaging 16.6 points to rank third in the Southland, and senior forward Moses Greenwood, with averages of 15.5 points (seventh in the league) and 7.2 rebounds (sixth), are the standouts for the Lions (7-12 overall, 3-3 in the Southland). Veal is scoring 21.8 in league play, tops in the conference.

Southeastern has won its last three conference games, over Lamar (76-69), then on the road at McNeese (74-71) and Houston Baptist (70-67).

Meanwhile the Demons have dropped their last two against teams up top in the league race, with the Sam Houston defeat coming after a 78-69 loss last Saturday at Abilene Christian.

Lane is the only NSU player scoring in double digits (12.5 per game) and has an 8.4 rebounding average that is second in the conference. In Southland games, his rebounding rate rises to 11.7, which is 2.5 better than any other league player.

Saturday's contest is the second half of a doubleheader beginning with a 1 p.m. women's contest between the schools. The afternoon features the annual "Battle for the Paddle Chili Cookoff" which will provide fans with free chili at the end of the women's game.

Saturday's game can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL and through the Demon Sports Network. Streaming audio and video is available through www.NSUDemons.com/watch, which can be downloaded through Google Play or the Apple Store.

The Demons will be on the road twice next week, at New Orleans Wednesday night and visiting Central Arkansas next Saturday. They'll be home again Feb. 6 against UNO.