Preview: Houston Christian at Northwestern State CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — Two Southland Conference men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Saturday when the Northwestern State Demons host the Houston Christian Huskies at Prather Coliseum. Both teams enter the 4 p.m. matchup on modest upswings. Houston Christian (10-17, 5-9 Southland) has won two straight, including a 72-68 victory over Nicholls State on Monday. Northwestern State (8-19, 4-10) snapped a four-game skid with a 69-66 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 14 before falling to McNeese State on Monday. The game is a quick rematch of a Jan. 19 thriller, which Houston Christian won 82-80 at home. In that contest, the Huskies erased a 13-point second-half deficit. A key player to watch for Houston Christian is Mambourou Mara. The forward is coming off a strong performance against Nicholls State, logging 35 minutes with 15 points and three blocks. His defensive presence will be critical against a Northwestern State team featuring one of the league’s top scorers. That scorer is Micah Thomas, the dynamic guard for the Demons. Thomas has been on a tear, averaging 24.3 points over his last three games. He poured in a season-high 27 points in the loss to McNeese State on Monday and scored 26 in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. Containing Thomas will be the primary defensive focus for the Huskies. Northwestern State has struggled at home this season, posting a 5-8 record at Prather Coliseum. Houston Christian is 4-11 in road games. Both teams rank near the bottom of the conference in scoring margin, setting the stage for what could be another closely contested game. The Huskies have shown improved form lately, winning three of their last five. The Demons, despite their record, have been competitive, with seven of their last nine losses decided by single digits. Following this game, Houston Christian travels to face Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday. Northwestern State remains at home to host Incarnate Word on Monday.