By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State men’s basketball team had the biggest answer it needed late Saturday afternoon.
After watching visiting Texas A&M-Commerce erase a 20-point lead, the Demons turned up the defense down the stretch and pulled away for a 70-57 Southland Conference victory inside Prather Coliseum, snapping a three-game losing streak in the process.
“I can’t say we haven’t been here before, but in the timeouts (in the second half) I was not a happy camper,” first-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. “I was not positive. I can say that here. I have a staple – I say, ‘You have to defend in fear, and on offense you play freely.’ They defended in fear. They defended like it was the last possession they were ever going to play.”
The dogged defense the Demons (6-16, 4-5) displayed down the stretch made sure Northwestern State wrapped up the first half of Southland play on a high note and enabled it to endure a torrid start to the second half from the visiting Lions (8-14, 2-7), who were playing for the fourth time in eight days.
NSU bolted to a 20-point lead less than 12 minutes into the game on the basis of an efficient offense and a defense that limited the Lions to five points in the first 11:57 of the game.
With Texas A&M-Commerce in a 2-for-16 funk from the field to start, there was bound to be some regression to the mean for the Lions, who entered Saturday’s game leading the Southland in made 3-pointers per game at 9.5. That came with Texas A&M-Commerce’s inevitable run – one that saw the Lions slice the Demons’ third 20-point lead of the first half at 4:54 to nine points before Braelon Bush’s layup with 3 seconds left in the half gave the Demons a double-figure halftime advantage.
The Lions were undaunted by Bush’s shot and secured their lone lead of the game at the 10:52 mark of the second half when Zondrick Garrett stuck back a missed Tommie Lewis 3-pointer to give Texas A&M-Commerce a 50-48 lead and cap an 8-for-13 start from the field in the second half.
In the final 10:52, however, the Demons reverted to their early-game form, limiting the Lions to a 3-for-17 finish from the field and forcing a run of four turnovers in four possessions with 3:55 to play.
“Commitment – just playing hard, guarding our yard,” said junior guard Chase Forte, who finished with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals and was in the middle of the key defensive run. “Big stops at the end really won us this game. They came back and went up two, but we held our composure and got stops.”
Down the stretch, Forte was the primary defender on Kalen Williams, who scored 12 points – none in the final 8:30 of the game.
Behind a team-wide defensive effort, the Demons limited Texas A&M-Commerce to 34.4 percent shooting, including a 4-for-25 performance from the 3-point line, marking the third time this season NSU has limited an opponent to 16 percent or worse shooting from 3-point range.
“Chase Forte is the best on-ball defender in this league,” Cabrera said. “He did a phenomenal job. There are times he drives me crazy with some of the stuff he does. I expect more from him, and he understands that. We have a relationship where he understands. He was a dog. He led us to this victory.”
While Forte helped spearhead the Demons’ defensive effort, senior forward Justin Wilson again led the way offensively, finishing with a game-high 17 points and leading Northwestern State’s plus-5 rebounding advantage with a team-high eight rebounds. Cliff Davis finished with 10 points to give the Demons a trio of double-figure scorers.
Wilson continued his upward trend in Southland play where he is averaging 10.3 points and a team-leading 5.8 rebounds per game.
“I’ve got nine-plus games with Justin from here on out,” Cabrera said. “I’m going to enjoy my time with him because he’s a kid I’ll truly miss. He defines being a leader. We had to get the ball to him, because when we did, good things happened. Since conference play has started, he has played with a confidence that has been on another level, so why stop?”
Wilson, who added a pair of blocks and a steal, was equally adept at dishing out praise to the backcourt duo of Forte and Braelon Bush, who had six of his eight points in the second half, connecting on all six free throws in the final 20 minutes.
“Chase Forte is a great defender,” Wilson said. “Every game, when it comes to guard play, we put him on the best one. I believe in that kid. He’s a great defender, and I try to feed off him.
“Braelon Bush is an outstanding facilitator for me. I get mad at him. I want him to shoot the 3, but he’s always looking for the next person. I love that about him.”
The Demons return to action as they conclude a six-game run of alternating home and road games Monday when they travel to face Nicholls. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m. inside Stopher Gymnasium.