Preview: Northwestern State Demons at Lamar Cardinals BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Cardinals, sitting at .500 and seeking momentum for a late-season push, will host the struggling Northwestern State Demons in a Southland Conference men’s basketball matchup Monday at the Montagne Center. Lamar (12-12) enters the contest looking to bounce back from an 84-74 road loss to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. The Cardinals have been inconsistent in conference play but have shown potency at home, most recently with a 73-54 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 2. The Cardinals are led by standout guard Braden East, who is coming off a career-high 33-point performance in the loss to Stephen F. Austin. East has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, averaging 18.1 points per game during that stretch. His scoring surge will be central to Lamar’s offensive plans. Northwestern State (6-18) arrives in Beaumont mired in a seven-game losing streak, most recently a 52-48 defensive struggle at Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday. The Demons have found wins elusive, with eight of their last nine games decided by single digits, including five losses by five points or fewer. The Demons will rely on guard Willie Williams, who has been a steady contributor during the skid. Williams is averaging 11.2 points over his last nine games and is coming off a 10-point, four-rebound effort at Texas A&M-Commerce. His ability to facilitate and score will be critical for a Northwestern State offense that has struggled to find consistent production. In the season’s first meeting on Dec. 29, Lamar handled Northwestern State with a 76-61 victory in Natchitoches. The Cardinals dominated the second half, outscoring the Demons by 18 points after the break. For Lamar, a victory is essential to stay in the middle of the conference standings and build confidence before a two-game road trip next week. For Northwestern State, the game represents another opportunity to snap a frustrating streak and steal a road conference win. Monday’s tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST at the Montagne Center. Following this game, Lamar will travel to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, while Northwestern State will host Southeastern Louisiana.