The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s basketball team picked up its first
win of the season Tuesday, defeating Central Baptist College’s junior varsity team,
116-87. After allowing an opening basket to Central Baptist College, the Nighthawks regained
the lead and never looked back—cruising to a comfortable 26-9 lead in the game’s first
nine minutes. Led by sophomores Kamren Roelke (Hot Springs) and Sayvon Traylor (Conyers,
Ga.), NPC took advantage of open looks in the paint to take a 61-36 lead heading into
the halftime break.
In the second half, Central Baptist College attempted a comeback, fueled by multiple
three-point shots, to cut a 30-point deficit in half. Behind 12 and 10 second-half
points from Traylor and sophomore Terry Clardy Jr. (Conway), respectively, and stifling
defense from sophomores Kam Vick (Little Rock) and Damarcus Johnson (Dallas, Tex.),
NPC found its groove again, setting a new season high in points scored and securing
the team’s first win of the season.
Traylor led the Nighthawks in scoring with 21 points. Roelke scored 20 points, Clardy
Jr., added 12 points and Vick and Johnson contributed 10 points apiece in the win.
“It felt great,” Hargrove said on earning his first win as NPC head coach. “I thought
we had a lot of guys perform really well today with great energy. We were good in
our transition offense. We need to be better on the defensive end, but I think that
we’ll get there. The biggest thing for us right now is communication on the defensive
end—talking to each other, huddling up and playing defense as a corps. We’ll keep
working on it in practice and get better and better at it.”
The Nighthawk men play host to Williams Baptist University’s junior varsity team at
7 p.m. tonight. The Nighthawk women travel to Seminole State College in Seminole,
Okla. at 5:30 p.m. today.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit np.edu/basketball. Visit Nighthawk Men stats and Nighthawk Women stats for up-to-date NJCAA statistics on the Nighthawks this
season. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
