February 9, 2004

GENEVA, N.Y.—For the second time this season, Hobart first-year guard Mike Manning (Center Moriches/Mastic, N.Y.) was named the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week. He was also named the league’s top rookie for the week ending Jan. 18.

Hobart’s leading scorer last week, Manning averaged 18.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 1.5 spg on the weekend for the Statesmen. At Union on Friday night, he scored a team-high 21 points, knocking down 9-of-14 from the floor, including both three-point attempts, in a 79-72 loss. He also grabbed seven boards against the Dutchmen. The following afternoon in a 72-61 loss at Skidmore, Manning produced a 16-point effort to go with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. For the weekend, Manning shot 51.9 percent from the floor (14-of-27), 60 percent from three-point range (3-of-5), and 66.7 percent from the free throw line (6-of-9).

Currently fourth on the team in scoring, Manning is among the league leaders in three-point field goal percentage (9th, .393), three-point field goals made (14th, 22), free throw percentage (15th, .657), and scoring (20th, 10.5 ppg). In conference play, he has turned his game up a notch, ranking seventh in free throw percentage (.778), 11th in scoring (13.0 ppg), 11th in three-point field goal percentage (.400), 14th in three-point field goals made (14), and 15th in field goal percentage (.451).

Hobart (7-12, 3-6 UCAA) returns to the court on Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., when UCAA rival Hamilton visits Bristol Gym. The Continentals (13-6, 5-4 UCAA) held off a late Statesmen surge two weeks ago in Clinton for a 74-73 win.