LAKE CHARLES – The last time Northwestern State and McNeese met in men's basketball the teams were on equal footing in the Southland Conference race.
 
Approximately one month after that first meeting, the teams will square off again in the back half of the two-game season series as the Demons invade the Legacy Center on McNeese's campus at 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+.
 
The Demons (10-12, 7-5) dropped the first matchup, 92-69, amid a barrage of 16 McNeese 3-pointers. Despite the final result, Northwestern was within single digits in the final minute of the first half.
 
"I'll always give the opponent credit when they kick your butt, and I give them credit for being shotmakers that night," second-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. "We know we're a better team than what we showed. I do wish I could have that particular game back, but we're allowed them to play them twice, and we'll go down and try to redeem ourselves."
 
Much like that Jan. 6 meeting, the Demons will come into the matchup with McNeese (17-6, 11-1) with positive momentum.
 
Northwestern broke a two-game losing streak Monday with its best offensive performance of the season against a Division I team, downing UTRGV 79-63 inside Prather Coliseum.
 
Four Demons reached double figures for the first time since a Jan. 11 win against East Texas A&M. The 79 points came after a three-game road trip in which Northwestern averaged 56.3 points in games against Stephen F. Austin, Lamar and East Texas A&M.
 
"I made some changes to the lineup and how we play," Cabrera said. "It opened the floor up for a lot of people. That allowed us to play with more space. Most importantly, the guys allowed the ball to pop, which is what we've been preaching all year, but we haven't seen it on a consistent basis. On Monday, they allowed the ball to move extremely well. It didn't stick. They took open shots, and we had the best offensive output we've had all season."
 
Continuing that trend will be challenged by a McNeese team that leads the Southland Conference in scoring defense in conference play, limiting opponents to 63.5 points per game. Overall, the Cowboys allow 65 points per game, ranking second in the league.
 
McNeese also has posted a plus-3.5 turnover margin through its first 23 games of the season.
 
"They're a very good team defensively – one of the best in the league with SFA," Cabrera said. "They have great size at every position. (Guard T'Johnn) Brown is their smallest guy, but he's their best on-ball defenders. They do a great job of eliminating paint touches, but if you move the ball, I believe you can still get them. That's the key to having success in any offense – moving the ball, driving closeouts, making those 3s. If we do those things, we'll be fine. I'm very confident in my ball club right now."
 
Despite dropping their previous two road games, the Demons are 3-3 away from home in conference play with four away games remaining.
 
"We have veteran guys," Cabrera said about his team's ability to win on the road in league play. "I try to simplify things, tell them their rims are the same as ours. The court dimensions are the same. I don't know if there's a secret recipe to it. They just figure it out."