January 17, 2007

John Grazioli

Aasim Cunningham

Mike Manning

ELMIRA, N.Y.—With 58.2 seconds remaining in regulation, senior guard Mike Manning (Center Moriches/Mastic, N.Y.) scored two of his game-high 20 points to break the eighth and final tie between Hobart College and Elmira College in non-conference basketball action tonight. Manning’s Statesmen went on to post a 68-66 victory over the host Soaring Eagles.

Hobart (5-9) trailed by as many as six in the second half, but rallied to forge the first of seven second half ties at 46-all with 10:17 remaining. For the remainder of the contest, neither team led by more four points. Elmira’s Bryan Mathews (12 pts) made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 63-63 at the 1:20 mark, setting up Manning’s big shot.

The Soaring Eagles took four shots in the waning seconds that would have tied the contest or put the home team in the lead, but none found their mark. The Statesmen, who entered the game as the Liberty League leader in free throw shooting, kept things interesting, missing three of four from the foul line in the last 20 seconds.

In the first half, Hobart needed less than five minutes to build an 11-point lead, 15-4, and led by as many as 11 as late as the 5:55 mark, but Elmira closed the session on a 16-4 run to carry a 30-29 lead into halftime.

The Statesmen shot just 34.5 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while the Eagles connected on 45.5 percent. Hobart turned the tables in the second half, outshooting Elmira 42.9 to 38.7.

In addition to Manning’s season-high 20 points, he also added six rebounds and a game-high six assists. Junior forward John Grazioli (St. Anthony’s/Melville, N.Y.) chipped in 19 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while senior guard Aasim Cunningham (Montclair Kimberley Academy/Montclair, N.J.) contributed 10 points.

Hobart is back in action on Jan. 19, when the Statesmen travel to Skidmore. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.