CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears return home to the Farris Center looking for a victory, but will have to beat a formidable Southland Conference opponent to get it.

UCA (4-12, 1-4) hosts Northwestern State (5-11, 1-4) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, then hosts league-leader Stephen F. Austin (16-2, 5-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday.

"We have our work cut out for us this week with Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin,' said UCA head coach Clarence Finley. "They are different types of teams that both provide a challenge. We'll have to prepare well and play well.'

The Bears are coming off a disappointing road trip where they lost games at Oral Roberts, Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian, the last loss coming on a goal-tending call at the buzzer that gave the Wildcats a 73-72 victory.

Northwestern State, coached by veteran Mike McConathy, was the preseason favorite to win the SLC but has also lost three consecutive conference games, to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist and SFA. The Demons lead the league in scoring, averaging 87.8 points, but also allow the most points of the 14 conference schools at 90.6.

UCA is similar, ranked fourth in scoring (76.0) and 13th in defense (82.2). The Bears are third in the league in three-point accuracy (38.5) while the Demons struggle from the perimeter (26.8, 14th). Neither team is strong in rebounding, with UCA 12th in the league in opponent rebounds (41.8) and Northwestern 14th (44.8).

Individually, UCA senior guard LaQuentin Miles leads the league in scoring at 22.5 points per game, while NSU's Jalen West is fourth (18.5). West is also No. 1 in assists (6.1), steals (2.7) and free-throw percentage (85.9). Zeek Woodley is first in field-goal percentage (64.5), while UCA's Jalen Jackson is 12th (52.2).

The Demons have three players averaging more than 15 points per game, with DeQuan Hicks (16.1) and Woodley (15.8) joining West. UCA's No. 2 scorer is senior guard DeShone McClure at 15.0 ppg. Jackson is second in the league in three-point percentage at 50.0 percent.

Northwestern State swept last year's two meetings and holds a 15-2 advantage in the overall series. The Bears' last win over the Demons was on Jan. 14, 2012 in Natchitoches, La.