McConathy Notches 600th Career Win

Longtime BPCC and Northwestern State Head Basketball Coach Mike McConathy has just crossed a major milestone with his 600th career win.

The NSU Sports Information Department's Doug Ireland filed the following news release.

NATCHITOCHES – Vintage Zeek Woodley and Jalan West led to a milestone 600th win for Northwestern State basketball coach Mike McConathy Saturday afternoon as the Demons’ dynamic duo spearheaded a 96-84 Southland Conference victory over visiting Lamar.

Woodley, the country’s No. 3 scorer, topped his 21.3 average with 25 points on 10-of-14 aim while West posted his eight career double-double, third this season, as the NCAA’s No. 2 assists maker contributed 17 points and 11 dimes.

Sophomore Sabri Thompson pitched in a season-high 15 points, one off his career best, as the Demons (8-8 overall, 3-2 in the Southland) prevailed despite 25 points from Anthony Holliday of Lamar (9-8, 2-2).

McConathy notched his 600th victory in 32 seasons as a college coach, 248 in 16 years at NSU after 352 in 16 seasons at Bossier Parish Community College. The Demons weren’t able to give him the landmark win in their first try, falling to hot-shooting Abilene Christian on Tuesday night, but came through Saturday as 1,823 fans at Prather Coliseum watched a 52 percent shooting performance by NSU.

Two straight Woodley baskets launched a string of nine unanswered points in a 1:35-long span that turned a one-point deficit into a 70-62 lead NSU never relinquished. After the seventh lead change of the day, Lamar twice battled back within three but two straight dominating baskets by West moved the Demons back in control.

Eleven seconds after Lamar closed to 74-71, Woodley answered with a baseline jumper, starting an 8-0 burst. On two straight possessions, West dribbled down the shot clock one-on-one out front, hitting a fallaway 14-footer for a 79-71 advantage, then cashing in a Marvin Frazier steal with a 23-foot 3-point bomb from the top of the key to push the spread over 10 for the first time to 81-71 with 2:48 left.

The lead was as big as 15 down the stretch. West scored 11, draining four free throws and adding his final two assists, in that closing run.

Woodley scored 14 in the final 11:37 to push NSU ahead and keep the Demons there.

“They are two special, special players and young men,” said McConathy. “They willed us to win. It wasn’t a two-man show because we got nice contributions throughout our team (10 Demons scored while 11 played at least eight minutes as NSU totaled only seven turnovers), but when Zeek and Jalan stepped it up we got into a really good flow overall.

“That was a good win over a tough Lamar team,” he said. “I’m glad if I was fortunate to get 600 wins, it happened in a game like this, against a quality opponent, and at home where so many people have been so good to me and my family for many, many years.”

The Demons prevailed despite Lamar’s commanding 54-32 rebounding advantage. The Cardinals made only 40 percent of their shots and had 17 turnovers. LeMon Gregory had a double-double for the visitors with 11 rebounds and 10 points, while Dontavious Sears poured in 17 off the bench and Tyler de Lattibeaudiere scored 11.

The contest capped a string of three consecutive home games for NSU, which visits Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tuesday night before returning to Prather Coliseum next Saturday for an afternoon doubleheader against old rival McNeese State.