BEAUMONT, Texas – In some ways, the fact the Northwestern State and Lamar men's basketball teams are on equal Southland Conference footing entering their first meeting of the season is fitting.
 
The Demons and Cardinals will play for the 63^rd time in their all-time series at 7 p.m. Monday inside Neches Arena on ESPN+. They do so as two teams in a four-way tie for third place as the first half of Southland play comes to a close.
 
To further draw comparisons, Northwestern (9-10, 6-3) and Lamar (11-9, 6-3) are both coming off three-point overtime wins Saturday. The Demons grabbed a 57-54 victory at Stephen F. Austin while Lamar edged East Texas A&M, 61-58, in Beaumont.
 
"Lamar's a really good team," second-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. "They're having a great year this year. They just went into Nicholls and won (this past Monday). Coach (Alvin) Brooks has done a phenomenal job. They press and they're physical as well. They're really good in the half court on both ends of the floor."
 
The Demons have lived on the razor's edge for much of the first half of conference play.
 
Northwestern's six wins have come by an average of 5.7 points per game with a one-point loss to Southeastern mixed in. Four of the Demons' first nine conference games have been one-possession affairs with Northwestern going 3-1 in those games.
 
Overall, the Demons are 3-3 in one-possession games this year and 1-1 in overtime contests following their win at Stephen F. Austin.
 
"It's a possession game," Cabrera said. "We're one or two possessions from being tied for second. If we clean up a couple of things in the Southeastern game, we're tied for second. We understand the importance of going on the road. Lamar has good size and good guard play. It's going to be a fun matchup."
 
The back courts in Monday's matchup may take a backseat to the front courts.
 
Lamar leads the conference in blocked shots per game (5.0) in all games while the Demons lead the league in blocks per game in conference games, swatting 5.3 shots per game. Individually, the top two shot blockers in the league will square off.
 
Northwestern's Jerald Colonel paces the league with 43 blocks while Lamar's Andrew Holifield is second with 38.
 
 That isn't to say guard play won't be important, however.
 
"There are times I question our toughness when it comes to facing presses," Cabrera said. "There have been times we have handled it well. That's the consistency part we have been talking about. We'll get there. In sports, we're allowed to practice and coach. It's my job and my staff's job to get our players better."
 
With three road wins under their belt in conference play, Northwestern has equaled its number from a season ago. A fourth road win would give the Demons their second 7-3 start in Southland play in the past three seasons.
 
"Our conference is really good, top to bottom, but we've got to be locked in," Cabrera said. "Good teams, in late January and early February, if they're not ready for the season to be over, you've got a chance to win. If they still like coming to practice, you have a chance to win. If they like being coached and want to get better, you have a chance to win. So far, my guys are like that, and I'm going to make sure they sustain that."