LAKE CHARLES – Offense has typically been the calling card of Northwestern State head coach Mike McConathy, but an improving Demons' defense has been key in NSU's 3-2 start to Southland Conference.
 
That defense will face its toughest SLC test yet Saturday when the Demons head to McNeese for a 3:30 p.m. contest in the Cowboys' new 4,100-seat Health and Human Performance Complex.
 
Fans can listen to the game on the Demons Sports Network – 95.9 FM Kix Country in Natchitoches or streaming audio on nsudemons.com and through the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free from the Apple Store or Google Play.
 
McNeese (6-9, 1-3 SLC) enters the game ranked second nationally in field goal percentage (52 percent) and 3-point percentage (42 percent). The Cowboys shot an astonishing 63 percent led by A.J. Lawson's 37 points to beat a previously 3-0 Abilene Christian bunch on Wednesday, 88-84.
 
The Demons (6-8, 3-2 SLC) got their fourth win in five tries Wednesday at UIW (72-66) in large part because of defense as the Cardinals shot just 32 percent from the field.
 
NSU is holding opponents to 40.2 percent from the field, which ranks second in the league and 86^th nationally.
 
The Demons have been particularly good of late, holding four of its last five opponents under 40 percent and two of those under 35 percent.
 
"We want to build off what we're doing defensively, and we've got to do a better job of defending the 3," said NSU coach Mike McConathy, who guided the Demons to a sweep of McNeese this past season. "We've done a great job of defending the 2, but we're poor on the 3.
 
"With our length and athleticism, we should be able to contest shots all over the floor. We're becoming more comfortable offensively, and we're striving for more consistency in ball movement."
 
McNeese could attempt to capitalize on NSU's relative defensive weakness to date – 3-point shooting. The Demons lowered its 3-point percentage allowed to 33 percent after UIW shot 5-of-31, but three of NSU's last six opponents have made at least 40 percent from deep.
 
Cowboys junior Dru Kuxhausen leads the nation with 63 3-pointers, making an astonishing 51 percent from long range. Sam Baker (25-60) and A.J. Lawson (18-50) are also deep threats.
 
NSU has relied on its length and athleticism to make life difficult for opponents inside the arc. The Demons allow teams to shoot 45 percent from 2-point range, helped by one of the most active front lines in blocking shots.
 
Juniors Jamaure Gregg (1.67 blocks per game) and Chudier Bile (1.36 blocks per game) rank in the top five in the SLC and top 120 nationally in blocked shots, bolstering an NSU squad that's averaging eight blocks in the past five games.
 
"Any time you can contest shots – we held UIW to 16 percent on 3-pointers, which is huge for us," McConathy said. "I thought UIW scored too many buckets on the inside, but we adjusted on ball screens because UIW was isolating their big guy inside and getting looks.
 
"Our interior defense has played a role in our ability to force teams to a lower percentage inside the arc."
 
NSU's 3-2 start to SLC play is its best in five years (2014-15), and the Demons have accomplished that despite key injuries and road games.
 
Three of the first five contests have been on the road, and after trips to McNeese and Nicholls (Wednesday), NSU will play five of its first seven away from home.
 
Senior LaTerrance Reed has missed nine games this season, but new injuries to Brian White, John Norvel and Nikos Chougkaz trimmed down NSU's back court.
 
Junior point guard C.J. Jones played a lion's share of minutes Wednesday with sophomore Trenton Massner pitching in. White missed all of Wednesday's game, while Chougkaz left with a first-half injury and didn't return.
 
Jones contributed season highs of eight points and six assists.
 
Junior Chudier Bile led all players with a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds, his third double-double of the season. His 12-of-15 free throws helped stave off a UIW comeback attempt after the Cardinals shaved a 23-point NSU lead to three in the final minutes.
 
Massner chipped in with 17 points, his third straight double figures output.