COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Northwestern State men's basketball team opens its 2025–26 season Monday night against SEC foe Texas A&M at Reed Arena, kicking off a three-game road stretch to start the year. 

For third-year head coach Rick Cabrera, the calendar turning to November means the talk is done. 

"This is the best time of the year," Cabrera said. "It's opening day coming up, and this is where it counts. We had two scrimmages where we got a lot of positives out of it. We're getting back healthy, so it's a good feeling to go into an SEC university and have a chance to compete and win a game." 

Monday's game is set for 7 p.m. Monday in College Station and will air on SEC Newtork+ with audio available on The Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.  

Cabrera's third season begins with something new — stability. 

"This is opening day number three, and for the first time we've got six returners," he said. "Having six guys is phenomenal. It doesn't automatically equate to winning, but it helps. They've led the new guys in the right direction. We've got a group of guys that like each other and like playing with each other, so we're excited to have some good continuity between old and new guys." 

Among those veterans is guard Micah Thomas, who chose to return after averaging 12.4 points per game last season. 

"I think it was just the love from the coaching staff," Thomas said. "What they installed here and in me and investing into six other guys that came back with us — I kind of seen a vision here. I've been in this conference for four years now, and I just want to see a championship. I feel like I owe that to myself. Why leave and go somewhere else?" 

Thomas said his focus this season is consistency and leadership. 

"Whether it's scoring, assists, anything — just being a leader," he said. "Keeping a calm presence on the court when adversity hits, because it's going to hit. Some nights it might be scoring, some nights it might be me getting others involved. I'm just trying to complete my game overall." 

Forward J.C. Riley Jr., who has played for Cabrera since their Tallahassee Community College days, returns healthy and motivated after battling injuries early in his career. 

"Tallahassee, I was obviously with Coach Cabrera," Riley said. "I got hurt during the summer, went through a bunch of injuries and ended up redshirting. Then I got here and also struggled with a couple injuries. My junior year, I was just finally getting back into it, feeling like I was learning how to play basketball at the collegiate level. Now I think it's getting to a point where I've learned a little bit, and I'm trying to really show that." 

Cabrera said Riley's progress has been one of the bright spots this offseason. 

"Just watching J.C. grow -- big men take a little bit longer to develop and he's come a long way," Cabrera said. "He's putting it together. You knock on wood he stays healthy. I'm so happy for them. For us as coaches it's important, but I'm excited for our guys to play on the national stage." 

The Demons' mix of experienced returners and hungry newcomers has stood out to Thomas. 

"One thing I'll say is their practice habits — this team gets after it," he said. "They play defense, and it inspires me to even get on the defensive end and be better on my end. They're young, eager to play, just happy and ready to hoop. You can't ever be mad at that." 

Texas A&M also enters with a fresh look under new head coach Bucky McMillan, creating some mystery for both sides. 

"From a scouting standpoint it's not easy," Cabrera said. "We look at past film. He has a lot of transfers, a lot of new guys, so we look at their past film as well. But most importantly, we focused on us. At the end of the day, it's basketball." 

For Thomas, that means embracing the challenge head-on. 

"Why not go smack them in the mouth?" he said. "Let's try to steal one our first game. Obviously, we're a smaller conference, so they're probably thinking it's one of those games for them. We don't look at it like that. We're trying to go knock them off." 

Opening with three straight road games might not sound ideal, but Cabrera said it's by design. 

"I think it's important for our players because we're going to have to win the Southland Conference Championship on the road," Cabrera said. "So why not learn now? We go play on the road and go have fun and just compete. We've got some dogs that compete, and that's why we scheduled our scrimmages to go on the road, so they can know how to play on the road. We'll see how it is Monday night."