SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Northwestern State men's basketball team hits the road Saturday, carrying momentum and history into a Southland Conference matchup against UIW as the Demons look to build on a dramatic home victory and continue their dominance in the series.

The game tips off at 4 p.m. at the McDermott Center on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.

Northwestern State (6-11, 4-4) enters the contest coming off a dramatic 64–63 win over UTRGV on Monday night at Prather Coliseum.

The Demons erased a 14-point second-half deficit with a late defensive surge and clutch execution in the final seconds, securing their second straight one-point victory.

After Jaylen Washington converted a pick-and-roll layup to put UTRGV ahead 63–58 with 45 seconds remaining, Northwestern responded behind Chris Mubiru, who drilled a second-chance 3 from the top of the key to cut the deficit to two.

Moments later, Izzy Miles stripped Filip Brankovic at midcourt, leading to Micah Thomas drawing a foul in transition. Thomas calmly knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 63 with 13 seconds left.

UTRGV had a chance to answer, but Washington's driving layup missed, and Willie Williams secured the rebound.

In the ensuing scramble, Marvin McGhee III fouled Miles with 1.4 seconds remaining.

Miles sank the first free throw to give the Demons the lead, and after the second missed, UTRGV's desperation heave at the buzzer came up short.

With little time to enjoy the win, Northwestern now shifts its focus to a challenging road swing, beginning with UIW.

"We love road games. We embrace them," head coach Rick Cabrera said. "That's what good teams have to do to win the league. We don't mind going away from home."

Historically, the matchup has favored Northwestern.

The Demons have won 10 straight games against the Cardinals and hold a 16–3 advantage in the all-time series, including a season sweep last year. Northwestern State's .842 winning percentage against UIW is its best against any Division I opponent with a minimum of 15 meetings and ranks second-best in program history overall.

While the numbers favor the Demons, the environment poses a stiff test.

UIW (8-9, 3-5) enters the matchup riding a three-game losing streak, all away from home, but the Cardinals have been dominant at the McDermott Center, posting an 8–0 home record this season.

"They haven't lost a game there, and they handle business like you should on your home floor," Cabrera said. "If we can be the first to knock them down, then so be it."

The Cardinals' most recent outing ended in a loss at Stephen F. Austin where UIW shot 32.7 percent from the field.

Despite recent results, the Cardinals remain dangerous behind Davion Bailey, a two-time Southland Conference Player of the Week who leads the conference in scoring at 19.6 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field.

For Northwestern State, the focus on the road remains consistent.

"I always tell our guys to pack their defense, rebounding, and toughness," Cabrera said. "That's our staple, especially on the road."