The Northwestern State Demons are set to host the McNeese State Cowboys in a Southland Conference showdown, with the Cowboys looking to build on their 21-5 record and solidify their position on the NCAA Tournament bubble, having gone 4-1 over their last five games, averaging 75 points per game in that stretch. McNeese has been outscoring their opponents by an average of 11.6 points over the last five games, a trend they want to continue against a Northwestern State team that has struggled defensively, allowing 64.2 points per game over their last five. The Demons, on the other hand, are 8-18 on the season and have gone 2-3 over their last five, averaging just 62.6 points per game, which could be a major concern against a high-powered McNeese offense that has scored 81 or more points in two of their last five games.
The Demons have had some bright spots, however, including a 69-66 win over Southeastern Louisiana, where they managed to hold their opponents to just 66 points, a number they must replicate if they hope to slow down the McNeese offense, which has been clicking on all cylinders, scoring 97 points in a blowout win over East Texas A&M just a few games ago. Northwestern State must find a way to contain the McNeese offense, which has been led by their strong shooting, hitting 47.5% of their field goals over the last five games, a number that will be tough for the Demons to match, given their own struggles on offense, where they have been held to 60 points or less in two of their last five games.
Key Matchups
The matchup between the two teams will feature some intriguing individual battles, including the one between Northwestern State's leading scorer, who has been averaging 14.5 points per game over the last five, and the McNeese defense, which has been stingy, allowing just 63.4 points per game over the same stretch. The Demons will also need to find a way to slow down the McNeese offense, which has been led by their own star player, who has been on a tear, averaging 18.2 points per game over the last five, and has been nearly unstoppable at times, scoring 25 or more points in three of the Cowboys' last five games. If the Demons can find a way to contain this player, they may be able to stay in the game, but it will be a tough task, given their own defensive struggles, which have seen them allow 70 or more points in three of their last five games.
As the game approaches, the trends suggest that McNeese is the team to beat, having gone 14-3 in conference play and outscoring their opponents by an average of 11.6 points over the last five games. The Cowboys have been dominant on offense, scoring 75 or more points in four of their last five games, including an 81-64 win over Incarnate Word, where they shot 52% from the field and hit 11 three-pointers. Northwestern State, on the other hand, has been struggling to find consistency, having gone 2-3 over their last five games, and being outscored by an average of 1.6 points per game in that stretch. The Demons have had some bright spots, however, including a 70-68 win over Lamar, where they managed to hold on for a narrow victory, but they must find a way to replicate that performance if they hope to take down the high-powered McNeese offense.
CHD Scout Prediction
McNeese
77
Northwestern State
64
The CHD Scout prediction has McNeese winning by 12.6 points, with a 14.7% win probability for Northwestern State, a number that reflects the significant gap between the two teams in terms of their recent form and overall performance. The prediction is based on the trends and data, which suggest that McNeese is the stronger team, having outscored their opponents by an average of 11.6 points per game over the last five, while Northwestern State has been outscored by an average of 1.6 points per game in that stretch. The Cowboys' offense has been nearly unstoppable at times, scoring 75 or more points in four of their last five games, and they want to continue that trend against a Northwestern State defense that has struggled to contain opponents, allowing 64.2 points per game over the last five.
The game has real consequences for both teams, particularly when it comes to their tournament resumes. A win for McNeese would be a big boost to their NCAA Tournament hopes, given that they are currently on the bubble, while a loss would be a significant setback. For Northwestern State, a win would be a major upset, and would give them a much-needed boost to their own tournament hopes, although they still have a long way to go.
Tournament Stakes
A win for Northwestern State would be a huge upset, and would give them a much-needed quality win to add to their resume, which currently lacks any significant victories. The Demons have been struggling to find consistency, and a win over a team like McNeese would be a major statement, and would show that they are capable of competing with the top teams in the conference. On the other hand, a loss would be a significant setback, and would make it even harder for them to make a push for the tournament. For McNeese, a win would be a big boost to their NCAA Tournament hopes, and would give them a significant advantage in terms of their resume, which already includes several quality wins. A loss, on the other hand, would be a major setback, and would put their tournament hopes in jeopardy, given that they are currently on the bubble.
The game will be a tough test for both teams, particularly given their recent form and trends. McNeese has been dominant on offense, scoring 75 or more points in four of their last five games, while Northwestern State has been struggling to find consistency, having gone 2-3 over their last five games. The Demons must find a way to slow down the McNeese offense, which has been led by their strong shooting, hitting 47.5% of their field goals over the last five games. If they can manage to do that, they may be able to stay in the game, but it will be a tough task, given their own defensive struggles, which have seen them allow 70 or more points in three of their last five games. The Cowboys, on the other hand, want to continue their strong form, and will be confident given their recent performances, which have seen them outscore their opponents by an average of 11.6 points per game over the last five. With their high-powered offense and strong defense, McNeese will be the team to beat, and it will take a major effort from Northwestern State to take them down.