The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s basketball team (5-3) defeated Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-West Plains), 91-89, in overtime Monday.
In a back-and-forth battle, NPC fought hard to match the Grizzlies bucket-for-bucket early. After MSU-West Plains took its largest lead of the game, 36-29, with 5:02 remaining in the first half, NPC answered back with a 8-0 run to regain the lead, fueled by timely three-point shooting from sophomore guard Ty-Shon Pannell (Long Island, NY). The Nighthawks enjoyed hot shooting from sophomore forward Quinntez Grimes (Dallas, TX) throughout the first 20 minutes, finishing with 13 first-half points and sinking a last-second layup to bring NPC within two, 48-46, at the break.
Entering the second half, each team stepped up its defensive presence on the floor. Freshman guard Patrick Punch (Houston, TX) led the way for NPC, going 5-7 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the arc for 12 second-half points, accompanied by 10 second-half points from freshman guard Nakavieon White (Odessa, TX). After two free throws from Pannell, NPC took its largest lead of the game, 74-67, with 4:07 remaining, but ceded a 11-4 run to the Grizzlies down the stretch. Tied, 78-78, in the final seconds of the game, the Grizzlies missed a wide-open three-pointer to send the game to overtime.
Tied, 87-87, with 8.8 seconds remaining in overtime, White hit a jumper, followed by a quick steal and two free throws from Grimes to give NPC a 91-87 advantage. The Grizzlies returned to the foul line for three free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining, sinking two, but the Grizzlies’ last second attempt at a tip-in rolled off the back of the rim, securing NPC’s fifth victory of the season.
White led the Nighthawks in scoring with 26 points, while Grimes, Punch and Pannell added 21, 20 and 18 points, respectively, in the win.
The Nighthawk men face Connors State College Thursday in Warner, OK, beginning at 7 p.m. The Nighthawk women return to action in the Lady Roughrider Classic, hosted by Crowder College in Neosho, MO. NPC will face Eastern Oklahoma State College Friday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. and Crowder College Saturday, Dec. 10 at 3 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
