The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s and women’s basketball teams defeated Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU Tech) Monday in The Kettle, with the Nighthawk women defeating the Lady Rockets, 59-57, and the Nighthawk men picking up a 97-90 victory.
In women’s action, what began as a lopsided lead for the Nighthawks (8-3) early ended in an impressive fourth quarter comeback. NPC took charge from the opening tipoff, draining two three-pointers to take a quick 6-0 lead. Led by five points from freshman guard Khyra Garrett (Brownsboro, Texas), NPC stifled the Lady Rockets, defensively, allowing just two SAU Tech field goals en route to a 16-9 first quarter advantage. In the second quarter, however, the Lady Rockets established their offensive rhythm, controlling the paint as NPC’s shooting cooled. With a layup at the buzzer, SAU Tech took its first lead of the ballgame, 27-26, going into halftime.
NPC’s shooting woes continued in the third quarter, with the NPC’s guards unable to knock down shots. SAU Tech remained hot, outscoring National Park College, 20-11, to take a double digit lead into the fourth quarter. Trailing, 47-37, entering the final act, the Nighthawks rallied behind 18 combined points from freshman guard Khayla Garrett (Brownsboro, Texas) and freshman forward Parish Norfleet (Wichita Falls, Texas) to spark a 20-3 NPC run. Leading 57-50, with less than 20 seconds remaining, NPC appeared to have locked up the victory. SAU Tech would not go away quietly, however, sprinting down court to sink a deep three-pointer, followed by back-to-back buckets off inbound steals to tie the game with 6.9 seconds to go. Following a Nighthawk timeout, Norfleet found a wide-open Khyra Garrett beneath the basket for the game-winning layup as NPC downed the reigning NJCAA Region 2 champions.
Khyra Garrett led the Nighthawks in scoring with 13 points. Norfleet finished with 12 points, while Khayla Garrett added 10 points in the win.
In a physical contest, National Park College (7-3) never trailed in men’s action,
holding off a late Rockets rally to soar across the finish line. Freshman forward
Joseph Washington (Miami, Florida) scored the first five points of the game as the
Nighthawks built a 9-2 lead in the first two minutes. Sophomore forward Brody Emberton
(Clinton) was tough to defend in the paint, scoring 11 first half points, while NPC
knocked down 13 of 16 free throw attempts down the stretch, including six from sophomore
guard Mondo Watkins (Hot Springs).
Leading, 42-34, at the break, Watkins and sophomore guard Shamir Caruthers (Rochester, New York) paced the Nighthawks with 11 and 12 second half points, respectively. NPC pushed the lead to 20 points, 66-46, with 11:16 to play and appeared to be in position to cruise to victory. Behind a perfect 16-16 from the free throw line, however, SAU Tech chipped away at the deficit throughout the remainder of the period, pulling within single digits, 90-81, with 1:30 to play. The Rockets’ rally continued into the final minute, with SAU Tech knocking down a three-pointer to pull within six points, 94-88, with 25.9 remaining. NPC’s defense held strong late, however, as the team notched its seventh victory of the season.
Watkins led the Nighthawks in scoring with 23 points. Washington added 21 points, while Emberton and Caruthers finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Tevin Tate (Springdale) contributed 10 points in the win.
The Nighthawks resume NJCAA Region 2 play Thursday, December 5 at Shorter College in Little Rock. The Nighthawk women face the Bulldogs at 5:30 p.m., followed by men’s action at 7:30 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.
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