Double double

Run it back.

After two games and four overtimes, National Park College (3-3) and Champion Christian College (5-4) are tied 1-1 after the first two intracity, intercollegiate sports games ever in Hot Springs. A dunk by Bryant High School graduate Lowell Washington capped a 113-106 win in double overtime for the Nighthawks Tuesday at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. The dunk gave NPC a 215-214 edge in points scored in the first two games.

"It was a great game," said NPC head coach Jason Hudnell. "It is a testament to them. Champion, they are a great team and a great program. I appreciate what they are doing. It sets up for a great part three in this rivalry."

The teams are scheduled to meet again for the third and final time this season on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the NPC Wellness Center gymnasium. Fans of both teams filled Gospel Light and Champion's gym on Nov. 28 when the Tigers eked out a 108-102 win in double overtime in their first matchup.

"I don't know what it is," said Champion head coach Jesse Byrd. "Power to them. It was a great game and it was a great atmosphere. It was everything you want in a college basketball game. These schools let these kids play and continue their education. Some of the kids I have would not go to school without basketball.

"To have this atmosphere is just phenomenal. I am looking forward to more great games. I really am. It is unfortunate we couldn't pull it out. We are short. I only have seven guys -- a starter has a torn calf -- but power to them. They played great. Their guys made free throws at the end where we didn't."

Seth Duke, of Gravette, opened up the second overtime with a steal and a layup to put the Nighthawks ahead 99-97. Champion's Cody Connor, of China, answered with a layup and Jarvis Ricks, of North Little Rock, answered right back on the other end.

Champion's Pargo Williams, of Baltimore, Md., was fouled on the next possession and was unable to shoot his free throws. Hudnell selected freshman Anton Pirtle, of Memphis, Tenn., to shoot and he made 1 of 2. Champion only dressed out seven players due to injuries and other absences with the five starters playing most of the game.

Connor tied the game at 102-102 before the Nighthawks began to pull away. Duke made 1 of 2 free throws to give NPC the lead for good. Logan Willett, of Faith Prep Academy in West Memphis, took a steal the other way and set up Braylon Steen for a basket.

Willett made another steal on the next possession and was fouled with 45 seconds left in the game. He made two foul shots to put NPC ahead 107-102. Willett was then called for a quick foul and Connor sank both free throws.

A free throw by Duke put NPC up 108-104 before Steen was called for a quick, touch foul on the other end. Williams made both free throws to make it 108-106, but fouled out to send Willett to the line again.

Willett made 1 of 2 foul shots and Connor recorded his fifth foul after a failed possession by Champion. Ricks made both free throws before Washington set the final score with his emphatic dunk.

"It was a couple of defensive stops in overtime where we made a play on defense," Hudnell said. "We hadn't really made a play. We got a big rebound or we did something, but we didn't make a play. We didn't make a steal or we didn't dive for a ball. In double overtime, I felt like that is what we had.

"We jumped out there and Seth got a steal. Logan got a big steal there for us late. He came in during that double overtime, Logan Willett, and did a tremendous job for us. I really appreciate his defensive efforts. We got two big stops defensively and then finally had some kids hit free throws at the end."

Both coaches said they felt like their teams should have closed the game in regulation and the first overtime. The Tigers led 2-0, but did not lead again until they pulled ahead 77-76 with 5:46 remaining in regulation.

NPC's first 12 points came by way of 3-pointers by Steen, Lake Hamilton's Jordan Harper and two by K.J. Corder, of Hot Springs. The Nighthawks raced out to an 18-7 lead before a timeout by Byrd. A scoring burst by the Tigers leveled the game at 20-20.

The next major lead for the Nighthawks came midway through the quarter. Corder sank three 3-pointers in a row and 6-6 DeMarkiyo DeVoil, of Bastrop, La., answered inside for Champion, who trailed 58-49.

The game came to a screeching halt at the 8:45 mark in the second half when Corder fouled Connor and stood over him. Players on the court swarmed together afterward and Corder was called for a technical foul. NPC's Pierre Adair was called for two technical fouls and was ejected. Connor missed both free throws, but Trevon Reed, of Blevins, made six straight foul shots.

"I feel more relieved than good, I think," Hudnell said. "I felt like we should have won the game in regulation. We controlled the game. We were up 5-10 points the whole game.

"We are young, we play like we are young and we did not finish really well in regulation. We had that kind of weird deal where we had six technical foul shots. We were up about eight at that point. I felt like that really changed the whole momentum of the game and we could not really ever regain it in regulation. Really, I don't feel like we regained it until the double overtime. I felt like we were crawling out of a hole, even in the first overtime."

A dead ball foul was called on Pirtle to give NPC two foul shots and the ball. Steen missed both free throws.

The Nighthawks made their first two free throws of the second half, but missed their next seven. They finished regulation 8-for-18, 44 percent.

"We may shoot free throws from now until Feb. 24," Hudnell said. "That may be all we do. If we shoot free throws and close out the game the way we should, we win this in regulation, but we will learn and we will get better."

The Tigers built a late 85-81 lead, but the Nighthawks answered in a scene reminiscent to their late rally at Champion in November. Reed made 2 of 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds, which allowed a 3-pointer by Steen and a basket by Jarvis to tie the game at 86-86. Williams' shot was left wanting at the end of regulation.

"I think they just hit big shots and we did not do a good job of keeping them in front of us," Byrd said. "That was the issue. They got to the paint. They kept tying the game and we kept missing free throws. If you can't keep people in front of you, you can't beat people.

"That was something we focused on coming in. To give up 113 points -- yes, we played 50 minutes -- but that is not good enough. Power to them. They are a great first-year program. I am looking forward to, hopefully, 40-50 years of this."

Champion took the lead again in overtime, but could not ice the game at the free throw line. Williams and Reed each made 1 of 2 before Connor missed two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock. The Tigers finished 27-for-44, 61.3 percent, at the line.

NPC advanced the ball past midcourt and called a timeout. Ricks nearly lost the inbound backcourt and was fouled on a drive to the hoop with the score 97-96 and one second remaining. He made his first, but missed the second.

Williams led all scorers with 30 points, including 17 in the first half. Connor finished with 28, Reed had 20 and DeVoil finished with 16.

"Overall, I am pleased," Byrd said. "We have not had a full practice in almost a month. I know they have not had many either."

Champion shot 37-for-78 overall, 47.4 percent, and 5-for-15 from 3-point. NPC shot 42-for-92, 45.7, and 12-for-36 from distance. The Nighthawks made 7 of 10 free throws in the second overtime to finish the game 16-for-30, 53 percent.

Corder led the Nighthawks with 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, and seven rebounds. Steen finished with 23 and 12 rebounds. Ricks had 19 points, while Washington and Adair added 11 apiece.

NPC will next travel to Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge to play at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16. Champion played Crowley's Ridge College Wednesday at Bank of the Ozarks Arena and has nine more games scheduled in the month of January, starting with a road game at North Arkansas College in Harrison at 2 p.m. Friday.