By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; featured photo by Gary Hardamon, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – One of second-year head coach Rick Cabrera’s mantras to his Northwestern State men’s basketball team is to be “everyday dudes.”
After suffering back-to-back, two-point losses that came down to the final possession, the Demons lived out their coach’s saying Sunday afternoon, delivering a 71-58 win against North Alabama in the finale of the City of Lights Classic Multi-Team Event at Prather Coliseum.
“This team looked like a different team – I wouldn’t say from any other game – but it looked like a different team from the last game,” Cabrera said. “We were so close against Rice and Oklahoma, but so close doesn’t get you anything. We were able to take care of business, and I’m so proud of them.”
The Demons (2-4) scored their first win of the year against a Division I team thanks in large part to a defense that limited the Lions (4-3) to 37.3 percent shooting, including 36.4 percent in the second half.
North Alabama entered the game averaging 82.2 points per game and shooting 45.7 percent.
Northwestern countered those numbers with a stellar stretch of defense in the second half, collecting nine straight stops and turning that into a 14-0 run across 6:03 of the second half. The surge opened the Demons’ largest lead of the game – an 18-point advantage – on a Jerald Colonel dunk with 4:14 to play.
For the second time in as many games, the Demons shot 60 percent or better in the second half and finished the game hitting 49.1 percent from the field.
“Everybody’s talented, and we can score in bunches,” said junior guard Landyn Jumawan, who had a career-high 12 points and two steals. “Everyone can score, but we’re going to win games on the defensive end, being tough and bringing energy.”
The Demons’ scoring run ratcheted up the atmosphere inside Prather Coliseum with Cabrera playing ringleader, exhorting his team and the home crowd at each turn.
Five different Demons scored during the run with no Northwestern player putting up more than Colonel’s four points in that time.
Throughout the game, sophomore guard Chris Mubiru and Jumawan paced the offense. Mubiru led the way with 13 points after scoring 16 total points in the first five games of the season. Jumawan had six points prior to Sunday’s outburst.
“I always tell those guys to be ready when their number is called,” Cabrera said. “Landyn deserved to start. He epitomizes what an everyday dude is. That’s our motto, be an everyday dude. He’s in the gym working when nobody’s looking. I always tell him the basketball gods are going to reward him. I do the same thing with Chris.”
Mubiru capped his first double-figure scoring game of the season with a blocked shot with 12 seconds remaining in a 13-point game, guarding to the very end.
“My role on the team is to play defense,” Mubiru said. “I have to be one of the guys who is willing to do the dirty work. Today, I did that and helped us win.”
In addition to Mubiru and Jumawan, Colonel and Love Bettis chipped in 10 points apiece. Bettis ignited the decisive run with the second of his back-to-back 3-pointers at the 9:50 mark.
The Demons also answered a challenge made much earlier than Friday from Cabrera, outrebounding the Lions by six. Willie Williams led the Demons on the board with seven – one of four Northwestern players who pulled down at least five rebounds.
“That’s how you win games,” Cabrera said. “You defend, rebound, create some offense off your defense and execute in the halfcourt.”
The Demons return to action Friday at LSU. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.