January 28, 2006

John Grazioli

GENEVA, N.Y.—Center John Grazioli (St. Anthony’s/Melville, N.Y.) scored a game-high 22 points to lead Hobart College over Clarkson University in Liberty League men’s basketball action this afternoon in Bristol Gym. The 6-foot-6 sophomore drained 10-of-13 from the floor, finishing three-points shy of his career high.

The Statesmen (8-9, 4-3 Liberty) had two other players also reach double digits. Junior guard Mike Manning (Center Moriches/Mastic, N.Y.) completed the contest one rebound shy of a double-double (19 pts, 9 reb), while senior guard Adam Frederic (Holy Cross/Flushing, N.Y.) chipped in 10 points and a game-high six assists.

Junior swingman Erick Vigansky (Tremper/Kenosha, Wis.) and senior forward Russ Vitallo (Dracut/Dracut, Mass.) led the Golden Knights (4-14, 1-6) with 12 points and 11 points, respectively.

Hobart got off to a sluggish start, missing six of its first eight shots, as Clarkson jumped out to an early eight-point lead. The Statesmen still trailed by four at the 9:42 mark, when they finally snapped out of their funk.

Manning scored the game’s next seven points, part of a 10-0 run, to single-handedly push Hobart back in front for what proved to be the remainder of the game.

The Statesmen led 32-28 at halftime.

After the break, Clarkson hung close with Hobart until the Statesmen used another scoring surge to put the game out of reach. Leading 42-36 with 14:59 remaining, Hobart went on a 12-2 run that ballooned its lead to 16 and effectively squashed the Golden Knights hopes of a comeback. Unlike the first half run, this one was a more balanced effort with five different players scoring for the home team.

The Statesmen controlled the glass to the tune of 39-29, led by junior forward Mike Mastro’s (Jericho/Westbury, N.Y.) game-high 10.

Clarkson’s 18 field goals made (on 55 shots, .327) are the fewest by a Hobart opponent this season. The Golden Knights struggled to hit 7-of-24 from the floor in the second half, a less than impressive 29.2 percent shooting.

The Statesmen are back in action on Jan. 31, when they host Hamilton College in another Liberty League match up. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.