NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State men's basketball team begins its West Coast swing on Tuesday night as the Demons travel to the Bay Area to face San Francisco in the opening game of a multi-team event. 

Tipoff inside War Memorial Gymnasium is set for 9 p.m. and the game can be watched on ESPN+. 

The game also will air on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.  

The matchup marks the first meeting between the programs and presents another meaningful early-season road test for the Demons.  

The trip west also gives NSU a chance to build rhythm with a roster that is just now returning to full strength. 

Head coach Rick Cabrera said the annual West Coast trip serves multiple purposes, but the priority is clear. 

"We like to try to schedule a trip where we're getting out of the South so our guys can see other places, but most importantly, it's a business trip," Cabrera said. "When you're traveling with some veterans, we hope they start to step it up a little more as the season goes on. San Francisco is the first stop, and we're going out there to bond and compete and try to win two games." 

Northwestern State (1–3) heads into the trip coming off its most complete offensive performance of the young season, a 95–75 win over Ecclesia on Friday.  

NSU shot 51 percent from the field, produced 48 points in the paint, and saw 11 different players score in the victory. 

Guard Omar Adegbola delivered a breakout performance, posting a career-high 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting while adding five rebounds. 

Senior guard Micah Thomas stayed in rhythm, scoring 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting — his third double-figure outing of the year. Thomas has established a new career high twice in the first four games of the season. 

Junior Chris Mubiru added 12 points and multiple transition baskets to help ignite NSU's tempo, while junior forward Kordrick Turner added 10 points and gave the Demons valuable minutes in the front court. Sophomore Justin Redmond chipped in 13 points as part of a 52-point bench effort. 

The Demons will look to carry their depth and pace into Tuesday's matchup against a San Francisco program known for physical defense, veteran guard play, and a consistent presence near the top of the West Coast Conference.  

The Dons (3–1) enter with a strong returning core and a system built around perimeter pressure and ball movement — something Cabrera said will challenge NSU's defensive growth. 

"They're very well coached," Cabrera said. "They have a kind of Princeton offense mixed with ball-screen actions. They do a phenomenal job. We have our work cut out for us, and we're going to have to defend and score the ball. I tell our guys when they pack their bags to pack their defense, rebounding, and toughness. If we go out there with that, we'll compete with a chance to win." 

Cabrera emphasized that NSU's defensive consistency will be the key to the trip. 

"It needs to travel," Cabrera said. "We haven't been very good at it, and that's on me. I've got to fix it. We have a great group that plays hard and listens, but we just have to bring it all together." 

The Demons expect continued improvement as the roster inches closer to full health.  

Friday's win marked valuable play from junior guard Chip Brunt, who contributed nine points, five rebounds, and two dunks off the bench. 

"Chip is a talented player — a 6-5 point guard, athletic, a really pesky defender," Cabrera said. "I've just been waiting for him to get healthy. Once we get him back fully and start getting (senior forward) Willie (Williams) back in the next game or two, we'll start to see where our team is heading." 

As the Demons head west, Cabrera noted the challenge of navigating the early season without a fully intact rotation. 

"It's part of sports," he said. "Losing stinks no matter who you play. But if you don't have your nucleus and pieces in there, it affects how things go. Everybody has injuries, and it's something you've got to deal with." 

San Francisco will have plenty of firepower awaiting the Demons.  

The Dons are led by junior guard Ryan Beasley, who enters Tuesday averaging 14.0 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting and is coming off back-to-back 23-point performances against Bradley and Portland State.  

USF's bench has also been one of the nation's most productive, averaging 44.0 points per game — the 19th-highest mark in Division I.