MURRAY, Kentucky – The Northwestern State men's basketball team concludes its cris-crossing, season-opening three-game road trip Saturday night at Murray State.
 
The Demons, for the first time this season, will face a team that does not reside in one of the power conferences when they meet the Racers for the first time in program history at 7 p.m. inside the CFSB Center. The game will air on ESPN+.
 
Labels, however, will not matter when the Demons (0-2) wrap up the first of their four road trips of at least three games this season.
 
"Murray State is arguably as good as Baylor and Mississippi State," fourth-year head coach Rick Cabera said. "They have a loaded roster, a very talented team. In all their exhibitions and scrimmages and even in their first game, they dominated. There's a lot of rich tradition there.
 
"I've coached in that arena, and I've played against them as a player. They've been good for a long time, so it's not a surprise."
 
The Racers (1-0) opened their season with a 94-64 win against Tennessee State on Monday. In a pair of exhibition games, Murray State defeated Wichita State and Florida International.
 
For the second straight game, the Demons will face an opponent who spread out the scoring in a season-opening victory.
 
Like Mississippi State, Murray State put five players in double figures, led by Roman Domon's 22 points. The Racers shot 51.6 percent from the field and forced 26 turnovers in the victory.
 
The Demons, meanwhile, have played the first two games without guards Izzy Miles and CJ Larry, two of their primary ballhandlers.
 
Despite that, Northwestern committed just five first-half turnovers at Mississippi State and were even in turnover margin at Baylor.
 
"We compete well defensively," Cabrera said. "Once we get our mojo going on the offensive end and we get some pieces back healthy, you'll see the big picture of this team.
 
"Our team is going to be ready. (Murray State) is going to know in their scouting report that the Northwestern State Demons compete and get after it."