NATCHITOCHES – After snapping a Houston Baptist winning streak on Saturday, Northwestern State will attempt to repeat the feat when Incarnate Word rolls into Prather Coliseum on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. game.
 
The Demons (10-12, 7-6 Southland Conference) could extend their winning streak to three games with a victory against UIW (7-16, 4-8) who has won three of its last four games.
 
NSU gutted out a home win against Abilene Christian (73-69) this past Wednesday before topping the Huskies (93-79) by double digits on the road.
 
The Demons pieced together a three-game winning streak this past season (Southern, Louisiana College and Champion Christian).
 
But the Demons haven't won three straight SLC games since the end of the 2016-17 season when the return of guard Zeek Woodley helped a late-season surge that tied NSU for the final SLC Tournament spot, ultimately missing out on the postseason on a tiebreaker.
 
"The biggest thing we've done is understanding that we have to do the little things to win," said NSU coach Mike McConathy. "We're also not doing some (bad) things we've been doing.
 
"Our turnovers are lower, had just 11 against Houston Baptist, even though some late turnovers led to HBU runouts."
 
The turnover decrease played a role in NSU attempting eight more field goals than HBU, and the Demons shot a blistering 51 percent from the floor. NSU has shot at least 45 percent in its last four games.
 
The Demons, who had been averaging more than 18 turnovers per game, committed just 15 against turnover-minded ACU and 11 at HBU.
 
"Our guards are making fewer turnovers even though we're losing the ball in the interior too much," McConathy said. "But we've played smaller lineups because of matchups, and we're handling and taking care of the ball better."
 
Point guards Brian White and C.J. Jones combined for six assists and zero turnovers at HBU.
 
White led the offensive charge with 23 points on 8-10 shooting and 6-6 from the free-throw line. He's scored in double figures in two of the last five games after reaching that plateau three times in the first 14 games.
 
"I'm glad to see him come out and have a good scoring night," McConathy said. "He wasn't being guarded off ball screens, so he was able to get in the lane, and our bigs did a good job of sealing.
 
"That's another example of us getting scoring from different places."
 
McConathy added that guys like freshman Jovan Zelenbaba, Trenton Massner and Jamaure Gregg have all had big halves recently that have spurred a run.
 
"That was big for us because we haven't been great at home, which is unusual," Massner said. "We turned a corner with that win, and then we got a big win at HBU.
 
"It would be huge for us to get two wins at home this week, but we know we've got to focus on the opponent in front of us. UIW runs their stuff really well, and we know we have to compete every night, defend and protect our home court."
 
NSU is in a three-way tie for fifth place with seven games remaining. The Demons are knotted with McNeese (12-12, 7-6 SLC) and Central Arkansas (8-16, 7-6 SLC) and are just two games back of second-place Nicholls (15-9, 9-4 SLC).
 
NSU edged UIW in San Antonio earlier this season, 72-66, building a 23-point lead that the Cardinals shaved to three.
 
But UIW has won three of its last four contests, including the last two in overtime against Sam Houston State and Southeastern.
 
The Cardinals aren't known for their 3-point shooting (shot 5-31 vs. NSU and 32 percent overall), but UIW made nine and 11 3-pointers in two of those last three victories.
 
"They are on a roll, and they're a scary team because their well coaches and do everything pretty well," McConathy said. "They are sound defensively and can throw wrinkles at you.
 
"We have to be ready to handle traps and pressure and not relax. The point guard (Drew Lutz) likes to drive in the lane and circle while looking for shooters, and they are effective at that."
 
NSU also plays at home Saturday against McNeese, and former men's and women's players are invited to a joint reunion. The event kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon.