NATCHITOCHES — This time, the Northwestern State men's basketball team didn't leave it to the final possession.

The Demons turned defense into separation Saturday afternoon on Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum, rolling past Houston Christian 71–53 in a game that felt different from the string of coin-flip finishes that have defined much of the season.

It marked Northwestern's first double-digit win since its blowout of Southern-New Orleans — and the first time in weeks the Demons didn't need late-game heroics to secure the result.

Head coach Rick Cabrera called it the team's most complete performance of the year.

"So proud of these guys," Cabrera said. "Most complete game that we've played all year on both ends of the floor. But most importantly, my staple was defense. These guys were really locked in. It was almost like I was a fan for a minute, just enjoying watching it."

Northwestern (9-19, 7-12) set the tone early and never trailed after the opening minutes, leading for more than 35 minutes and building a lead that stretched to 20 in the second half.

Defense was the catalyst.

The Demons held Houston Christian (10-18, 6-13) to 37.7 percent shooting for the game and just 35 percent in the first half, limiting the Huskies to only one assist in the opening 20 minutes while forcing eight first-half turnovers.

HCU finished with just 53 points on 20-of-53 shooting.

"We knew it was a must-win game," Izzy Miles said. "The coaches did a great job on the scout. Honestly, it was everybody. Everybody was locked in, and we just did what we had to do."

Northwestern controlled the interior from the outset, outscoring Houston Christian 34–22 in the paint and finishing plus-13 in points off turnovers and plus-12 in paint production overall.

"On the offensive end, I simplified some things," Cabrera said. "Especially for Micah (Thomas) — just attack, be aggressive, and showcase your talent. We scored 34 points in the paint today. That's huge."

Thomas once again led the charge offensively, pouring in 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Thomas scored 10 in the first half as the Demons built a 37–25 halftime advantage.

Miles matched that early aggression, scoring 10 of his 17 points before the break and finishing 6-of-11 from the floor while adding seven assists.

"Defense is really my thing," Miles said. "Once I get a stop or get out in transition, that's what gets me going. It just builds from there."

Willie Williams continued his strong stretch inside, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double. Williams was dominant on second-chance opportunities and controlled the glass as the Demons outrebounded the Huskies 35-32.

"I felt like it was one of our better games," Williams said. "We've been coming down to the wire in a lot of games. It felt good to get a good lead."

Williams even found humor in the unfamiliar comfort of a cushion.

"I was talking to Mike on the bench like, 'When's the last time you sat with three minutes (left)?'" Williams said with a smile.

Saturday marked Senior Day for Williams, Thomas, Landyn Jumawan, and Quentin Bolton Jr., and Williams admitted the moment added meaning.

"It felt amazing," he said. "To have a game like that in front of my family and friends — that means a lot."

The bench also provided a spark, outscoring HCU's reserves 26-15. Jumawan added six points and seven rebounds, while Kordrick Turner chipped in seven points off the bench.

Northwestern shot an efficient 48.1 percent from the field and knocked down 15 of 19 free throws, capitalizing on opportunities that had slipped away in previous tight losses.

The second half opened with a brief stretch of sloppiness — three turnovers in the first five minutes — but the defensive intensity never wavered. Houston Christian went nearly six minutes without a field goal, scoring at the 18:30 mark before not finding the basket again until 12:36.

Even when the Huskies trimmed a 19-point deficit to 11 during an 8–0 run midway through the second half, the Demons responded.

Williams scored on consecutive second-chance opportunities, and Thomas steadied the offense at the free-throw line to restore control.

Cabrera emphasized that the defensive foundation has been building.

"Three of our last four games we've played really well defensively," he said. "Even against McNeese, they didn't score a field goal in the last eight minutes. Today, it just looked better because we flowed on offense. The ball went to the right people, and the orange ball went to the orange rim."

For a team fighting for postseason positioning, Cabrera believes the identity is clear.

"We have to do it on the defensive end," he said. "We're not going to win by just trying to outscore people. Especially in conference play. People remember what you do at the end, and we're trying to finish strong."

For a group that has lived in two-possession games, Saturday offered something different: a complete, wire-to-wire performance built on defensive pressure, interior dominance, and balanced scoring.

This time, the Demons didn't just compete late.

They finished early.