GAME NOTES: The nation's top scoring offense will go to work once again as the Northwestern State Demons host the UT Martin Skyhawks in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament at Prather Coliseum.

The winner will advance to the second round where teams will be re-seeded.

UT Martin will be hoping a two-game losing streak doesn't slow the team down. The Skyhawks, who are making just their second postseason appearance all-time in their Division I history and first in the CIT, dropped a 76-65 decision to Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament back on March 5.

Northwestern State engaged in a high-scoring battle with eventual Southland champion Stephen F. Austin in the semifinal round of the conference tournament, 91-79. The Demons are making their fourth Division I postseason appearance, and their first in the CIT as well.

This matchup between the Skyhawks and Demons marks the fourth all-time between the programs. Northwestern State holds a 2-1 edge over UT Martin, having last faced off back in the 2010 season, which saw the Demons come away with a 103-94 victory at home.

It's been two weeks since the Skyhawks last took the court for game action, and UT Martin didn't perform all that well in the contest. The Skyhawks allowed Morehead State to convert on 51.9 percent of its field goal attempts in the game, while UT Martin netted just 37 percent of its tries from the floor. Alex Anderson scored a team-best 23 points in the defeat, while Marshun Newell chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds, though he did turn the ball over four times. The Skyhawks led for a portion of the game, but only got their lead to as many as two points before the Eagles took over.

Deville Smith tallied nine points in the contest against Morehead State, which hurt his team-leading scoring average, but not enough to take it away. Smith enters the CIT netting 13.8 ppg to pace the Skyhawks, though he's followed closely by Newell's 13.3 ppg mark and Twymond Howard's 13.0 ppg. Newell leads the program on the glass, averaging 7.1 rpg, though he shows his ability to stretch a defense by hitting 41 percent of his 3-point attempts. Anderson (11.7 ppg) adds another double-digit scoring figure to the team, which is connecting on 46.8 percent of its shots this season for 69.7 ppg. The team's defense is allowing 64.9 ppg to opponents entering the postseason.

Tremendous outings from Zeek Woodley - one of the nation's top scorers - and a handful of others weren't enough to keep Northwestern State in the hunt for the Southland title. Jalan West scored a team-best 25 points for the Demons, adding in nine assists with a perfect 9-of-9 mark from the free-throw line. Woodley contributed 17 points with eight rebounds, while Sabri Thompson chipped in 16 points off the bench. The Demons converted 51.9 percent of their field goal tries in the contest, but watched as the Lumberjacks made 52.6 percent of their shots en route to the win.

Netting 84.1 ppg heading into the CIT, the Demons own the nation's best scoring offense, though surprisingly only have two players that average a double-digit point total. Woodley, who connects on an impressive 56.5 percent of his shot attempts, ranks second in the country with 22.6 ppg, falling in behind Eastern Washington's Tyler Harvey who averages 22.9 points. West comes in behind Woodley with 19.6 ppg, but leads the nation in another category. West distributes 7.7 apg to pace not just the team and the Southland Conference, but everyone in Division I basketball. He's also managed 66 steals this season. Both Woodley and West are shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, and better than 82 percent at the free-throw line this season. The Demons' defense, however, is severely lacking, allowing 82.3 ppg to opponents.

UT Martin's defense will get quite the workout against Woodley, West and the Northwestern State offense on Thursday, especially in Katy, Texas. The Skyhawks will have to try and use their size against the Demons, and will need to control the tempo of the game. It can be done, but the home advantage gives the edge to the Demons.