National Park College and Champion Christian College's men's basketball teams are separated by one point after their first two meetings each needed two overtimes to determine the winner.
The Nighthawks and Tigers will tip at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the second game of National Park College's homecoming doubleheader. The women's team will host Arkansas State University Mid-South from Memphis at 12:30 p.m. in the NPC Wellness Center. An alumni reception with the teams will be held at 11 a.m.
"We are really excited to host our homecoming game this Saturday," said Jason Hudnell, NPC head men's coach. "It's a great opportunity for us to connect our alumni with our current students, faculty and staff. It will be good for our kids to meet some of the athletes that were a part of the Lakers athletic program."
Champion's 108-102 victory on Nov. 28 was the first-ever, intracity, intercollegiate contest in Hot Springs. Fans of both teams packed the small confines of Champion's gym.
The setting required an adjustment from the Nighthawks, who regularly welcome several hundred fans for home games.
"I honestly thought it was going to be a little small crowd, but it is a pretty good crowd," NPC forward Lowell Washington, of Bryant, said Thursday. "I would say there's probably more people here than I experienced in high school."
Forward Braylon Steen, also of Bryant, said he was also surprised by the support the Nighthawks receive.
"Everyone in town comes to the games to support us, and they even come to the away games," Steen said. "It is kind of different for our first year to see our blue at away games.
"I was surprised to see how many people came here the first couple of games. That was a wonder."
Champion seniors Pargo Williams and Cody Connor paced the Tigers with 25 points apiece in November. Their output increased to 30 and 28 points, respectively, in the two teams' second meeting on Jan. 2 at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, but the Nighthawks prevailed 113-106.
"I don't think anyone thought that this would turn into what it has, two double-overtime games," said Champion head coach Jesse Byrd. "We have really been spoiled in the first year of this crosstown series.
"I'm not a huge fan of rivalries because that brings an ugly connotation to it, but this has really been something special. Hopefully both programs continue to grow, and the whole city gets behind it."
Steen led all scorers with 32 points in the first matchup and tallied 23 points with 12 rebounds in the Nighthawk victory. He said he knew the games with Champion would be intense.
"They don't want us to take their spot," Steen said. "That's what it is, but I feel like we have brought some interest in Hot Springs.
"It was probably kind of dead at first, but now it is something to look forward to when we collide. It is like an event you just can't miss."
K.J. Corder had 18 points at Champion but hit seven 3-pointers at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. He finished with 29 points to lead the Nighthawks in scoring.
Washington scored 19 points against Champion in November and nine points in January until the waning seconds of the game. His dunk in the dying moments gave NPC a 215-214 advantage in total points scored after the first two matchups.
"I had a rough night," Washington said. "I looked at that as redemption."
Champion was in Keene, Texas, Thursday for a road game at Southwestern Adventist. Saturday will be the final game of the regular season for the Tigers, who will head to Joplin, Mo., next week for the Association of Christian College Athletics National Tournament.
"It is always difficult to play a team for the third time in one season," Hudnell said. "Our teams know each other very well, and there will not be any surprises.
"They are a good ball team, and we are very much looking forward to it. We plan to remind them that there is another college basketball program in Hot Springs."
Washington said the Nighthawks have improved as a team since their first two meetings with the Tigers and will need to emphasize shot selection and defense on Saturday. NPC won all six games in January before going 3-2 this month, with the only losses being 107-94 and 95-88 to perennial National Junior College Athletic Association powers North Arkansas College and ASU Mid-South, respectively.
"Every game we have improved on the defensive end," Steen said. "I think our chemistry has built up to the point where I know we are not fixing to go into overtime in this game.
"We made some weird mistakes and let them stay in the game. We're not going to do it this time."
The Nighthawks will play at home on Monday for the final game of the regular season before the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Collegiate Club Regionals.
Sports on 02/23/2018