NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State men's basketball team returns to Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum on Monday night riding momentum and confidence as the Demons host UTRGV in Southland Conference action. 

Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Prather Coliseum, with the game airing on ESPN+ and radio coverage available on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches. 

Northwestern State (5-11, 3-4) enters the matchup fresh off one of its most dramatic wins of the season, a 79–78 buzzer-beating victory over Texas A&M–Corpus Christi on Saturday afternoon.  

Trailing for much of the game, the Demons clawed their way back behind improved second-half defense and timely bench production from J.C. Riley Jr. and Omar Adegbola before Micah Thomas buried a one-legged 3-pointer at the horn to seal the comeback. 

Thomas finished with 20 points, while the Demons outscored the Islanders 43–38 after halftime. 

With little time to linger on the result, Northwestern quickly turns its attention to another conference challenge. 

"This is conference basketball, and it's that Saturday-Monday turnaround," head coach Rick Cabrera said. "It's part of the routine. Sometimes with quick turnarounds you don't get to over-scout, and that can actually be a good thing for your players." 

UTRGV (6-10, 2-5) comes to Natchitoches looking to bounce back after a 77–69 loss to East Texas A&M on Saturday.  

The Lions shot 50 percent from the field and handed out 24 assists in a fast-paced game defined by ball movement. Despite the setback, the Vaqueros remain one of the Southland Conference's most dangerous perimeter teams. 

UTRGV ranks 30th nationally and second in the Southland Conference in 3-point percentage at 37.4 percent, placing a premium on Northwestern's perimeter defense.  

The Vaqueros are led offensively by Koree Cotton, who averages 12.3 points per game on 41 percent shooting. 

The engine behind UTRGV's offense is Jaylen Washington, who leads the Southland Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.0, ranking 43rd nationally. His ability to create scoring opportunities while limiting mistakes fuels a Vaqueros attack built on spacing and balance. 

"They're a good ball club that's capable of winning the league," Cabrera said. "They've been in almost every game they've played. They're balanced inside and out, and their guards do a good job of controlling the game." 

Monday's contest marks just the second meeting between the two programs since UTRGV joined the Southland Conference last season.  

Northwestern claimed the first matchup on Feb. 3, 2025, earning a 79–63 win at Prather Coliseum behind 18 points and five assists from Thomas. The Demons controlled that game defensively, holding the Vaqueros to 31 percent shooting overall and 18 percent from 3-point range. 

With another opportunity at home, Cabrera emphasized the importance of building momentum inside Prather Coliseum. 

"I'm just happy we're playing at home," Cabrera said. "We want to start winning our home games and get that six-man feeling. Our fans and students can really make a difference."