NPC handles Crowder in non-conference game
National Park College’s men’s basketball team improved to a perfect 13-0 this season against non-conference opponents with a 109-75 home victory Wednesday against Hendrix College.
It was the last scheduled home game of the season for the Nighthawks (13-4). They began the season 9-0 in the fall semester before starting conference play in January.
Sophomore K.J. Corder, of Hot Springs, and freshman forward David Jagers, of Magnolia, scored nine and eight points, respectively in the first half. Head men’s basketball coach Jason Hudnell was able to utilize his bench early as the hosts entered halftime with a 49-39 lead.
Freshman forward D.J. Martin, of Pine Bluff, and freshman Dayten Wishon, of Gravette, led the way in the second half with 10 and nine points each. Sophomore forward Braylon Steen, of Bryant, also scored nine points in the final 20 minutes.
The Nighthawks outscored the Warriors, 60-36, in the second half. The visitors were outrebounded, 42-15.
Wishon finished as the leading scorer with 15 points. Steen and Martin scored 12 points apiece, while Corder and Jagers were among four plays with 11 points each. Freshmen Garrison Branscum, of Perryville, and Patrick Greene, out of Wilbur D. Mills in Little Rock, each added 11 points.
National Park College has six games remaining, all on the road, on this year’s schedule, its first as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Up next is a road game tonight at 7 p.m. in Walnut Ridge against the junior varsity team for Williams Baptist University, a member of the NAIA American Midwest Conference.
The Nighthawks are not eligible for postseason play this season, but players are eligible for awards. They have lost their first
four games against Division II Region 2 conference opponents with two games remaining at Arkansas State University Mid-South (15-6, 2-1) in West Memphis on Thursday and Southern Arkansas University Tech (15-9, 2-1) on Feb. 28 to end the season.