NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State men's basketball team delivered its strongest response of the early Southland Conference season Saturday afternoon, turning to its defense to erase a halftime deficit and secure a 74–68 victory against New Orleans on Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum. 

"It's always fun when you win, and I'm so proud of these guys," head coach Rick Cabrera said. "We've been through it mentally and emotionally, but one thing I tell them is they never quit. They bought into guarding in the second half, and we took advantage of that." 

Northwestern State (4-10, 2-3) trailed 43–34 at halftime after New Orleans controlled much of the opening period behind efficient shooting and a physical interior presence.  

The Privateers (4-10, 2-3) built their largest lead of the game at 14 points midway through the first half, using an 11–0 run to create separation and dictate tempo. 

Despite the early hole, the Demons stayed within striking distance by generating second-chance opportunities and attacking the glass, keeping the margin manageable heading into the locker room. 

"The first half wasn't pretty," Cabrera said. "But the good thing about basketball is there are two halves, and we took advantage of the other one." 

New Orleans maintained control through the opening stretch of the second half, keeping the Demons at bay and holding the lead near double digits through the first 10 minutes. After a Kedrick Osby jumper pushed the Privateers' advantage to 56–45, the momentum shifted dramatically. 

New Orleans then missed 14 consecutive shots, a drought Northwestern State capitalized on with a 13–0 run that flipped the game on its head. 

With the Demons closing in, senior Micah Thomas penetrated the lane and kicked the ball out to Landyn Jumawan for a corner 3-pointer to give Northwestern a 61–59 lead with just over five minutes remaining. 

"If Micah gets downhill and kicks it out to me, I've got to let it go with confidence," Jumawan said. "I put the work in, so when that moment came, I was ready." 

Northwestern continued to apply pressure down the stretch, winning the rebounding battle in the second half behind senior forward Willie Williams' first double-double of the season. Williams finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, including nine boards after halftime, anchoring the Demons' interior presence. 

"Rebounding is about effort," Williams said. "I told myself when I got back in there, I was going to attack the glass, and that's what I tried to do." 

The Demons shot 37.9 percent in the second half but made up for it by getting to the free-throw line and finishing possessions, converting 14-of-18 from the stripe after halftime.  

Each time New Orleans threatened late, Northwestern answered with poised execution, key free throws, and interior finishes to close out the win. 

Five Demons scored in double figures, led by junior forward Chris Mubiru, who paced Northwestern with 16 points, knocking down three 3-pointers and going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Thomas added 12 points, four assists, and steady late-game ball handling, while Izzy Miles chipped in 12 points, consistently pressuring the defense. 

"That's winning basketball," Cabrera said. "We shared the ball, the ball was popping, and we took good shots. When you do that, those shots normally go in." 

New Orleans was led by Jakevion Buckley, who scored 17 points, though the Southland Conference leader in free-throw attempts did not attempt a free throw. Coleton Benson added 15 points, but the Privateers were limited to 31.3 percent shooting in the second half as Northwestern State's defensive intensity increased. 

"We did a heck of a job on Buckley," Cabrera said. "Our guys followed the scouting report, defended without fouling, and stayed disciplined." 

The Demons finished the game with advantages in bench points (19-11), fast-break scoring (10-3), and second-chance points (18-12) — key factors in the comeback victory. 

"Winning heals a lot of wounds," Cabrera said. "We're not where we want to be yet, but we're getting better." 

Northwestern State heads to Thibodaux on Monday to face conference-unbeaten Nicholls, with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.