SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN SET FOR CYPRESS

CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — A surging Texas A&M-Corpus Christi squad looks to extend its win streak against a Northwestern State team seeking a turnaround when the Southland Conference foes meet Saturday at Prather Coliseum.

The Islanders (8-7, 3-1 Southland) have won three straight, including an 81-65 road victory at Houston Christian on Monday. They have found their footing in conference play after a challenging non-conference slate.

Northwestern State (4-11, 1-3) aims to rebound from a narrow 74-72 loss at Nicholls State on Monday. The Demons have struggled to close games, with five of their losses coming by single digits.

A key matchup will feature two of the league’s top scorers. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Sheldon Williams has been efficient during the streak, averaging 12 points over the last three games on strong shooting. He scored 16 points in 23 minutes against Houston Christian.

For the Demons, guard Micah Thomas is coming off a career-high 29-point performance against Nicholls State. He has averaged 18.2 points over his last five contests and is the focal point of Northwestern State’s offense.

The Islanders have relied on balanced scoring. Alongside Williams, Mason Gibson and DA Houston each added 16 points in the latest win. Corpus Christi’s defense has also tightened, holding its last three Division I opponents under 70 points.

Northwestern State will need more support for Thomas. Willie Williams (14 points) and Izzy Miles (14 points) provided help against Nicholls, but consistency has been an issue for the Demons, who rank near the bottom of the conference in scoring defense.

Historically, the Islanders have dominated the recent series, winning the last six meetings. They won both matchups last season by an average of 17 points.

Saturday’s contest is the first of a quick two-game conference road swing for Corpus Christi, which plays at Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday. Northwestern State continues a three-game homestand, hosting Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Monday.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon in a game that pits the Islanders’ current momentum against the Demons’ desperation to protect their home court and climb the Southland standings.