NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State men's basketball team wraps up its Southland Conference homestand Saturday afternoon as Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum turns back the clock for Throwback Day against New Orleans.

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.

Northwestern State (3–10, 1–3) enters the matchup looking to bounce back following a 74–64 setback to conference-leading Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday.

"We are looking forward to having another opportunity to bounce back and win a conference game," third-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. "My team is hungry for a win, and we are preparing for it with good, tough practices."

The Demons battled throughout the contest, taking the lead early in the first half and chipping back into the game in the second half, pulling within three before the Lumberjacks answered each surge to maintain control down the stretch.

Chris Mubiru led Northwestern State offensively with 15 points, while Micah Thomas added 14 points and went a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Willie Williams anchored the interior with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds, and Izzy Miles chipped in nine points as the Demons showed resilience despite the result.

Saturday's matchup brings another conference opponent to Natchitoches as New Orleans looks to respond after an 83–69 loss at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi on Wednesday.

Offensively, the Privateers (4–9, 2–2) are led by senior guard Jakevion Buckley, who averages 14.8 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field. Buckley also leads the Southland Conference in free-throw attempts (79), setting the tone for a New Orleans team that consistently attacks the rim.

As a team, the Privateers rank second in the Southland Conference in free-throw percentage (74.0) and third in attempts per game (22.2), converting 16.4 free throws per contest — also third in the league — making defensive discipline a key factor for Northwestern State.

"UNO is a very good team," Cabrera said. "Their nonconference schedule has prepared them for Southland Conference basketball. They have great balance in Buckley, Benson and Thomas, along with good complementary players."

Saturday's contest continues a long-running in-state series between the two programs. Northwestern State's rivalry with New Orleans dates back more than 50 years but intensified when the Privateers joined the Southland Conference in the 2013–14 season.

Since then, the teams have met 24 times as league foes, with the Demons holding a 15–9 advantage.

Overall, Northwestern State has won 16 of the 29 all-time meetings and has controlled the recent stretch of the series, capturing seven of the past eight matchups.

That run includes a 73–61 victory in Natchitoches on Feb. 6, 2022, which extended the Demons' winning streak in the series to five games — including all four meetings during Cabrera's tenure.