Stephen F. Austin vs Northwestern State Prediction 12/31/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and the Northwestern State Demons will meet on Wednesday afternoon in a Southland Conference matchup at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Betting Preview

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks enter Wednesday’s matchup with Northwestern State with a 10–2 win-loss record, including a 6–0 mark at home and a 2–2 record on the road. The Lumberjacks have compiled wins over Arkansas State, UL Monroe, Rice and UT Rio Grande Valley, while dropping games to UT Arlington and the Fresno State Bulldogs. More recently, in the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks convincing 103–55 victory over Dallas College nine days ago, Stephen F. Austin guard Keon Thompson tallied 14 points (5 of 8 shooting from the field), 5 rebounds, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal.

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks average 76.2 points on 45 percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent shooting from three-point range (38th in the nation) per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Lumberjacks are allowing opponents just 65 points per game which ranks 20th in the country.

Senior guard Keon Thompson leads the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks with 17.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Senior forward Jerald Colonel contributes 5.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, giving the Lumberjacks a strong interior presence.

Northwestern State Demons Betting Preview

The Northwestern State Demons enter Wednesday’s matchup with Stephen F. Austin with a 3–8 record, including a 2–1 mark at home and a 1–7 record on the road. The Demons have compiled wins over Southern–New Orleans, Southeastern Louisiana and Ecclesia College, while dropping games to California, McNeese, Southern and the Texas A&M Aggies. More recently, in the Northwestern State Demons’ dominant 108–55 victory over Southern–New Orleans, Northwestern State guard Micah Thomas amassed 20 points (6 of 11 shooting from the field), 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

The Northwestern State Demons are averaging 67.4 points on 42.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.6 percent shooting from behind the arc per game. Defensively, the Demons are allowing opponents 82.4 points per game which ranks an abysmal 314th in the country.

Senior guard Micah Thomas leads the Northwestern State Demons averaging 16.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1 steal per game. Sophomore guard Justin Redmond provides the Demons with further backcourt versatility averaging 10.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and1 steal per contest. 

Why the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Will Win

• Quality guard play.  Senior guard Keon Thompson leads the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks with 17.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

• Interior dominance. Jerald Colonel averages 5.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game.

• Offensive efficiency. In Stephen F. Austin’s recent dominant 103-55 win over the Dallas Crusaders, the Lumberjacks shot 50% from the field and hit 16 three-point shots.

• Elite defense. The Lumberjacks are allowing opponents just 65 points per game which ranks 20th in the country.

Why the Northwestern State Demons Will Win

• Home court competitiveness. Northwestern State nearly upset SFA at home last season.

• Addison Patterson’s scoring ability. He posted 23 points and 10 rebounds in last year’s matchup.

• Recent momentum. The Demons are coming off an 108‑point performance and return home with confidence.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. Northwestern State Demons

This matchup features Stephen F. Austin’s high‑efficiency offense and aggressive defensive pressure against a Northwestern State team that has struggled with consistency all season. SFA’s scoring depth, perimeter shooting and elite defense give them a clear advantage, while Northwestern State’s athleticism and home environment should keep the game competitive early. With that said, I am backing the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks to win this game by double-digits.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Stephen F. Austin TBA