The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks men’s basketball team (1-0) won its season
opener Tuesday, defeating Central Baptist College’s junior varsity team, 114-93.
After a back-and-forth battle, early, NPC found itself trailing, 31-21, with 11:18
remaining in the first half. Behind strong performances from freshmen Nakavieon White
(Odessa, TX) and Patrick Punch (Houston, TX), NPC overcame the slow start through
strong rebounding and attacking the paint to build a comeback, regaining the lead
with less than five minutes to go en route to a 58-45 lead at halftime.
In the second half, sophomore Miguel Miranda (Tampa, FL) took charge of the offense,
scoring 14 second-half points, while limiting the Mustangs’ top shooters, defensively,
to cruise to push NPC to victory.
White led the Nighthawks in scoring with 22 points, while Miranda (Tampa, FL) added
20 points. Punch and sophomore Justin Davis (Waterbury, CT) scored 16 and 13 points,
respectively, while sophomores Ty-Shon Pannell (Long Island, NY) and Nichus Jackson
(Trenton, NJ) added 10 points apiece in the win.
The Nighthawk men return to action Friday, Nov. 4 in the Greyhound Tipoff Classic,
hosted by Arkansas State University-Mid South. NPC will face Northwest Mississippi
Community College at 5 p.m. Friday and Parkland College Saturday at noon.
The Nighthawk women open their season at Southwest Tennessee Community College in
Memphis, TN, today at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk men’s basketball and Nighthawk women’s basketball online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
