- Matchup: Incarnate Word Cardinals vs Northwestern State Demons
- Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
- Venue: Prather Coliseum, Natchitoches, LA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Northwestern State Demons (9-19) are set to welcome the Incarnate Word Cardinals (11-17) at Prather Coliseum on Monday.
In their recent match against East Texas A&M, the Incarnate Word Cardinals triumphed with an 82-73 victory. They showcased a remarkable 51.9% shooting accuracy (27 out of 52) and hit 13 of their 26 three-point attempts. From the free-throw line, the Cardinals converted 15 of 16 shots, achieving a rate of 93.8%. On the rebounding front, they secured a total of 25 boards, with 7 offensive rebounds, and provided 14 assists while forcing 6 turnovers and making 5 steals. Defensively, they allowed their opponents to shoot 49.2% from the field with East Texas A&M recording 21 assists and 4 steals. The opponent’s rebounding effort culminated in 23 total boards (10 offensive, 13 defensive), without any blocks. East Texas A&M managed a free-throw success rate of 62.5%, converting 5 of 8 attempts, and made 10 of 28 shots from downtown. In fouling, the Cardinals recorded 10 personal fouls, compared to 14 by East Texas A&M.
Tahj Staveskie was a standout player, finishing with a shooting percentage of 47.6% and providing 5 assists. He played for 38 minutes, accumulated 3 rebounds, and scored 33 points with 10 field goals out of 21 attempts.
Entering this matchup, Incarnate Word holds a record of 11-17 for the season. They are averaging 75.5 points per game (196th in college basketball), with a shooting percentage of 44.7%. The Cardinals have made 38.2% of their three-point attempts (246 out of 644) and have a free-throw percentage of 72.0%. As a collective, they collect 34.8 rebounds per game and have compiled a total of 331 assists, ranking them 318th in Division 1 for team passing. They average 11.3 turnovers each game while committing 18.1 fouls collectively.
Defensively, the Cardinals force an average of 10.6 turnovers per game and accumulate 16.5 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 34.2% from beyond the arc and stand 214th in college basketball for points allowed per game (74.8). Their opponents enjoy a field goal percentage of 47.2% (726 out of 1,537), while Incarnate Word allows 32.4 rebounds per game, ranking 211th nationally in assists relinquished (380 this season).
In their last outing, the Northwestern State Demons secured a victory over Houston Christian with a score of 71-53. In this match, they allowed Houston Christian to grab 28 boards in total (7 offensive). The Demons struggled from three-point territory, hitting only 5 out of 18 attempts for 27.8%, while finishing 8 of 12 from the free-throw line (66.7%). Houston Christian registered a shooting percentage of 37.7%, making 20 out of 53 attempts. Northwestern State managed to shoot 48.1% overall, hitting 26 out of 54 shots. They nailed 4 out of 14 three-pointers (28.6%) and finished with a successful free-throw rate of 78.9%, converting 15 of 19 attempts after Houston Christian committed 19 fouls. The Demons turned the ball over 7 times and claimed 32 rebounds in total (26 defensive and 6 offensive).
Micah Thomas was pivotal for the Demons, scoring 23 points in 28 minutes, along with a single assist. He converted 7 out of 16 attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of 43.8%, and managed to grab 1 rebound.
Northwestern State currently holds a record of 9-19 this season. Offensively, they are shooting at a 44.5% rate from the field, which ranks 230th in D-1. They have amassed 1,963 points throughout the season, averaging 70.1 points per game, and secured an average of 31.1 rebounds per game. Their average assist tally stands at 12.3 per contest (302nd in college), while turnovers average 11.6 per game. The Demons commit 17.0 fouls each game and maintain a free-throw rate of 74.6%.
Defensively, Northwestern State permits opposing teams to shoot at a 35.8% clip from beyond the arc (211 of 590), while opponents are hitting 70.1% from the free-throw line. They allow 13.3 assists and 34.5 rebounds per game, ranking them 174th and 197th in college basketball, respectively. The Demons are positioned 180th nationally in points allowed per game, giving up an average of 73.6 points. They force their opponents into 11.6 turnovers per contest and allow a field goal percentage of 46.3% (ranked 295th nationwide).
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA clash against the spread?
Prediction: Back Incarnate Word
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