HOUSTON --- Houston Christian University fell to Northwestern State University on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 64-57 defensive slugfest in Sharp Gymnasium. The Huskies battled back from a nine-point first half deficit in the first half to tie the game but a 10-3 march over the final four minutes allowed the Demons to pull away for the victory.
 
The two teams started the physical contest on both ends straight from the jump. A Willie Williams layup gave the Demons a 6-4 lead at the first media, and a three-ball from Jon Sanders II pushed the lead to six, 13-7 at the 13:19 mark. Another bucket edged NSU's lead to eight before a Demari Williams corner three in front of the visitors bench brought the Huskies to within five.
 
Two minutes later, D'Aundre Samuels got a layup and then after securing a defensive rebound, pitched ahead to Bryson Dawkins for a massive lefty hammer on the breakway to pull HCU to within one, 15-14.
 
Samuels would hit another jumper just outside the paint to tie things at 20, and a moment later was followed by a drive down the lane by Porter Bazil for a slam that knotted the game at 22 with 6:28 to play before the half.
 
Northwestern State would then go on a 11-4 run to end the first half. A dunk by Willie Williams began the spurt and a jumper by Jon Sanders II ended it, giving the Demons their largest lead at nine, 33-24 before taking a seven-point edge to the lockeroom.
 
The Huskies came out with a quick 6-0 burst to start the second half. A jumper by Elijah Brooks was followed by a strong sequence from Peyton Rogers, who redirected two offensive rebounds on the same possession, the second to Julian Mackey floated down the lane for a pretty scoop that got the Huskies within three. Forty seconds later Mackey nailed two free throws to cut the lead to one, 33-32.
 
The teams would then trade baskets for the next seven minutes, with NSU's lead never more than three. Finally, at the 11:33 mark, a step-back three-ball by Dawkins with the shot clock running down got the Huskies even, 44-all. After that, the Huskies went ice-cold for nearly six minutes, but in turn held the Demons to just six points. Trent Johnson's three-ball from the corner in front of the HCU bench broke the drought, and the Huskies found themselves down just three once again with 5:59 to go.
   
A Williams layup got the Demons back up five, 54-49, but HCU would charge right back. Two more free throws from Mackey would make it a three-point game and then on the very next possession he bullied his way to the cup for the hoop and the harm, with his free throw following the final media tying things at 54.  
 
NSU would then hold HCU in check the rest of the way. A layup by Jon Sanders gave the Demons a three-point edge once again, and back-to-back three-point plays by Addison Patterson and Sanders finished off a game-ending 10-3 run to seal the deal with 40 seconds to go.  
 
The Huskies shot just 42% on the day, including 24% from the arc and were outrebounded by five. Northwestern used a 44-34 edge in the paint and a 29-20 margin in bench points and trailed just once.
 
Bryson Dawkins was the lone HCU player in double-digits, scoring 13 on 5-10 shooting from the floor while collected five rebounds and two assists. Julian Mackey and D'Aundre Samuels each contributed nine points while Peyton Rogers led the Huskies with six boards. Elijah Brooks chipped in seven points and five caroms.
 
NSU was led by Addison Patterson's game-high 25 points on 10-16 from the field, while Jon Sanders II had 17 points. Willie Williams had a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards for the Demons, who earn their first 2-0 league start since 2012-13 while improving to 4-5 overall.
 
The Huskies fall to 3-7 overall and 1-1 in Southland Conference action. HCU now takes a 10-day hiatus which includes Finals week, not returning to action until December 17 at ULM. That is the first of three straight road games that finish off the non-conference schedule prior to the Christmas holidays. 
 
#DawgsUp