The 20th-ranked National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s basketball team (8-0)
swept the Des Moines Area Community College Classic over the weekend, defeating Spoon
River College, 92-72, Friday and knocking off No. 3 Des Moines Area Community College,
91-85, Saturday. In Friday’s action against the Snappers, NPC scored at will from
the paint and never looked back. Led by strong shooting from sophomore guards Keryn
Collins (Dallas, Texas) and sophomore forward Nakavieon White (Odessa, Texas), the
Nighthawks capitalized on multiple Spoon River turnovers to soar to a 44-36 halftime
lead.
NPC kept its foot on the gas, offensively, throughout the second half. Spreading the
scoring in the paint, the Nighthawks took advantage of Snappers’ foul trouble to cruise
to the 19-point victory.
Collins led the Nighthawks in scoring with 19 points. White finished with 18 points
and 11 rebounds, while sophomores Siddiq Canty (Dallas, Texas), Taylor Harrell (Huntsville,
Texas) and Them Koang (Grand Island, Nebraska) finished with 15, 12 and 10 points,
respectively, in the win.
Saturday’s action was a game of runs, with NPC edging the third-ranked Bears to remain
undefeated. Behind aggressive scoring in the paint from White and Harrell, NPC held
onto the lead for most of the first half and outlasted a barrage of three-pointers
from Des Moines Area Community College to claim a 45-42 halftime advantage.
Despite being outrebounded in the second half, the Nighthawks stuck to their game
plan, forcing fouls through aggressive drives in the paint and creating offense through
steals. Sophomore guard Ja’Bryant Hill (Dallas, Texas) set NPC’s single-game steals
record with 10 steals, passing Collins’ mark set just one week prior. Hill also thrived
from the free throw line, finishing 11-13 in the contest as NPC picked up its biggest
win in program history.
White led the Nighthawks in scoring with 25 points. Hill finished with 24 points and
10 steals, while Harrell added 12 points. With 21 total steals, NPC set its single-game
team steals record in the win.
The Nighthawk men face Missouri State University-West Plains in West Plains, Missouri
Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Nighthawk women return home Tuesday, November 28 against Labette Community College
at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Nighthawk Network.
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
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
X: @NPC_Nighthawks
