NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State men's basketball team continues its Southland Conference homestand Wednesday afternoon, welcoming longtime rival Stephen F. Austin to Prather Coliseum.

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+ with radio coverage available on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.

Northwestern State (3–9, 1–2) enters the matchup looking to respond following a 76–61 setback to Lamar on Monday in its conference home opener.

Despite the loss, the Demons showed flashes offensively, led by Izzy Miles and Micah Thomas, who combined for 33 points. Miles finished with 17 points while Thomas added 16, continuing to shoulder the offensive load as conference play unfolds.

The Demons also continued to get to the free-throw line, an area that has been a strength all season. Northwestern State shot 64.3 percent from the stripe against Lamar and remains among the top 100 teams nationally in free throw percentage, ranking second in the Southland Conference.

Wednesday's matchup brings one of the league's hottest teams to Natchitoches.

Stephen F. Austin (10–2, 3–0) arrives riding a five-game winning streak, most recently earning a 75–48 win over East Texas A&M on Monday. The Lumberjacks closed that contest on a dominant 26–2 run over the final 10 minutes and held the Lions scoreless over the final six.

"Matt (Braeuer) is doing a phenomenal job," head coach Rick Cabrera said. "They're sharing the ball, making shots, defending — the numbers don't lie. They've got good balance with point guard play, Keon Thompson scoring the ball, good shooters on the wing, and Jerald (Colonel) is playing really well for them."

Offensively, SFA is paced by Thompson, who averages 17.4 points per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field.

The Lumberjacks are also anchored defensively by forward Colonel, a former Demon who leads the nation in blocks per game (3.8) and ranks third nationally in total blocks (42). Colonel was a member of Northwestern State's 2024–25 roster before transferring to Stephen F. Austin.

As a team, the Lumberjacks excel on the defensive end, ranking 16th nationally in 3-point percentage defense, limiting opponents' efficiency from beyond the arc.

Wednesday's contest marks the 138th meeting between Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin, the fifth-most played series in Demon history and nearing a tie for fourth with Louisiana-Monroe.

The Lumberjacks hold a narrow 70–67 edge in the all-time series, highlighted by a nine-game winning streak from Jan. 16, 2014, to Feb. 4, 2017.

"It's a rivalry — there's a lot of history in this game," Cabrera said. "We're looking forward to getting them here at home, and our guys will be ready to play."

Recent meetings have reflected the rivalry's competitive balance with the programs splitting the last eight matchups. Neither team has won more than two straight games in the series during that span, underscoring the tight margins that often define the matchup.

With conference positioning at stake and a New Year's Eve matchup on tap, Cabrera emphasized the urgency required in league play.