06 Dec 2023 Nighthawk Men rank fifth in nation
HOT SPRINGS — The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s basketball team received its first Top 5 ranking in program history this week, placing fifth in Monday’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 2 poll.
One of two 11-0 teams remaining in the nation, NPC took down Central Baptist College, 108-80, Tuesday to set the program’s longest winning streak at 10 consecutive games. Friday, National Park College remained undefeated after defeating Missouri State University-West Plains for the second time this season, 95-75.
NPC currently ranks fourth, nationally, in points scored and is among the top 10 teams in the nation in assists and steals. Sophomore forward Nakavieon White (Odessa, Texas) leads the Nighthawks in scoring with 18.5 points per game while also serving as the team’s leader in field goals, free throws, rebounds, assists and blocks. Individually, White’s 76 assists rank second in the country, while his 85 defensive rebounds are third-best in the nation.
“Another strong week has given us the opportunity to keep climbing the ranking ladder,” NPC Athletic Director Rich Thompson said. “We are so proud of Nighthawk basketball. We have known how special our program is and now the rest of the country is getting to find out, too.”
This marks the fourth-consecutive week that the Nighthawks have received a national ranking. In the NJCAA’s first reporting period of the season, NPC ranked No. 20 before advancing to No. 11 following a 91-85 win over Des Moines Area Community College, which currently ranks fourth in the nation. NPC ascended into seventh place in last week’s poll before jumping two spots this week to its highest ranking in program history.
Nighthawk men’s basketball will host the Nighthawk Holiday Classic December 15-16 in Hot Springs. The Nighthawks face Allen County Community College Friday, December 15 at 7 p.m. and play host to Kansas City Kansas Community College Saturday, December 16 at 2 p.m. The games will be streamed live on the Nighthawk Network.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk Athletics online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
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