NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State men's basketball team returns to Prather Coliseum on Saturday afternoon, looking to turn an encouraging offensive performance into a home win as the Demons host Southern.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will stream live on ESPN+. The game also can be heard on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches. 

Saturday's matchup also serves as the start of a month-long food drive that will benefit the NSU Food Pantry. Fans are asked to bring a non-perishable food item that will go to the on-campus center.  

The matchup renews a series that has historically tilted slightly in the Jaguars' favor, with Southern holding a 6–5 edge. The Demons, however, carry the momentum in recent meetings, riding a four-game winning streak against the Jaguars dating to 1999. 

NSU (1-5) enters the weekend coming off an 85–72 road loss at Grand Canyon, a game in which they showed clear progress on the offensive end after a challenging early-season road swing that also included a trip to San Francisco. 

"San Francisco is an NCAA Tournament-caliber team. They went into Minnesota and beat them the game after us, and Grand Canyon is an NCAA Tournament-caliber team out of the Mountain West," head coach Rick Cabrera said. "We did a lot of good things in both games, especially the Grand Canyon game. Our team is a group of great young men. I enjoy coaching them. They like each other, and they like playing with each other. We just have to keep building and get healthy, and I think we'll be fine." 

Northwestern State shot 48 percent from the field against Grand Canyon and nearly matched the Lopes from beyond the arc while turning the ball over just 10 times. 

Senior guard Micah Thomas led the way with 24 points and reached a significant  milestone by eclipsing 1,000 career Division I points early in the second half.  

He was joined by senior guard Landyn Jumawan, who provided a spark with three second-half 3-pointers, and forward Kordrick Turner, who continued to establish himself as a reliable interior presence with 10 points on 3-for-4 shooting and a 4-for-4 effort at the free-throw line. 

Cabrera pointed to Jumawan's response after a brief lineup change as an important step for the Demons' offensive balance. 

"I took Landyn out of the lineup a couple of games ago and told him he just needed a reset," Cabrera said. "He just had to relax. He played really well and we need him to be consistent. Being a senior there's a lot more on your shoulders. We need to give Micah some help on the offensive end, and both Landyn and Kordrick have that ability. I've never told Landyn not to shoot the basketball. If he's open, he has to let it go and he's starting to do that." 

The trip west also seemed to reignite Jumawan's confidence, something Cabrera has seen before. 

"The further we go out west the closer we are to home for him, so he probably plays better out there," Cabrera said. "But he's had moments here in the South, too, and I think he's trending toward having that complete package, playing well out west and also playing well here." 

Turner's emergence in the frontcourt continues to be another bright spot as he adjusts to a larger role at the Division I level. 

"With Kordrick it was, 'Hey, we're going to throw you in the trenches and start you against some very good universities,' and to his credit he's handled it well," Cabrera said. "He's one of the most skilled post players I've coached in a long time with his feet and his touch for a kid his size. We're looking for him to keep growing and getting better every day." 

Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between the schools with both Cabrera and Southern head coach Kevin Johnson serving as head coaches, each entering their third season at their respective programs. 

For Cabrera, the matchup with the Jaguars carries a conference-type feel against a team built on toughness and defensive intensity. 

"This is going to feel like a conference game," Cabrera said. "Southern is really good. They won their regular season last year and their coach does a great job. Those guys defend and they have talent. We're playing at home, so hopefully we bring our own energy and our town comes out and supports us. It's good to see a like opponent on the schedule and not another power-conference or high mid-plus university." 

Southern (2-4) arrives in Natchitoches following an 80–66 loss to San Jose State but brings a disruptive, pressure-oriented identity that will test Northwestern State's ball security. 

The Jaguars rank fifth nationally in steals per game at 12.2 and sit in the top 100 in eight statistical categories, using their perimeter activity to create extra possessions and transition opportunities. 

Offensively, Southern is led by senior guard Michael Jacobs, who has opened the season in consistent form, scoring 17 or more points in each game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range. 

Facing that combination of ball pressure and shot-making, Cabrera knows the Demons' continued growth from their road stretch will have to show up in front of the home crowd. 

"We're playing at home, so we have to bring our own energy and get locked in," Cabrera said. "If we keep building on what we did offensively on the road and match that with the toughness we need, we'll give ourselves a chance."