The No.1 ranked National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s basketball team (26-0)
defeated Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU Tech) in National Junior College Athletics
Association (NJCAA) Region 2 play Saturday, completing its regular season with an
undefeated record.
Hot off a 50-point performance in his previous game, sophomore guard Ja’Bryant Hill
(Dallas, Texas) led the Nighthawks from the floor as NPC built a double-digit lead
early and never looked back. Sophomore guard Patrick Punch (Houston, Texas) delivered
clutch shots from beyond the arc, knocking down five three pointers in the game as
NPC built a comfortable 45-30 halftime lead.
Defensively, the Nighthawks won the rebounding battle, with sophomore forward Anthony
Swift (Las Vegas, Nevada) tying NPC’s single-game record with 20 boards to accompany
three blocks and six points.
Sophomore center Taylor Harrell (Houston, Texas) turned in his 10th double-double
of the season with 10
rebounds to accompany a 14-point scoring effort. A perfect six-for-six from field
goal range, Harrell completed the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation in field
goal percentage. Down the stretch, Hill dazzled from the free throw line as NPC cemented
its undefeated regular season with the regular-season sweep of SAU Tech.
Hill led the Nighthawks in scoring with 25 points. Punch added 23 points, while Harrell
finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore guard Keryn Collins (Dallas,
Texas) scored 14 points. Swift finished with 20 boards, six points and three blocks
in the win.
As NJCAA Region 2 champions, National Park College has earned the No. 1 seed in this
week’s NJCAA Region 2 Tournament, held at Harding University in Searcy. With a first
round bye, The Nighthawks will face either University of Arkansas-Cossatot or Arkansas
State University Mid-South in the semifinal round held Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. The
championship game will be played Sunday, March 3rd at 4 p.m. The games will be streamed
live by TSBN Sports.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk Athletics online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
X: @NPC_Nighthawks
