GENEVA – Hobart College senior forward Richie Bonney (Norwich/Norwich, N.Y.) set a new Statesmen men’s basketball scoring record, and was also named the Liberty League Performer of the week following last week’s NCAA tournament games.
Bonney averaged 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds 3.5 steals, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks last week. In the first round against No. 21 Scranton, he scored a team-high 30 points, breaking Joe Corbett's 11-year-old career scoring mark (1,701) and leading the Statesmen to a 94-81 victory. He also recorded a game-high 10 rebounds, a team-high four assists, and a game-high four steals against the Royals.
In the second round against Morrisville State, Bonney closed out his career with a game-high 24 points, five rebounds, a game-high three steals, and two blocked shots. The Mustangs ended Hobart's season 86-75.
One of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy, presented to the most outstanding player in Division III men's basketball, Bonney started all 29 games this season, producing 20.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He logged 21 double-doubles, second in the nation. Bonney's 234 field goals made are the second most by a Statesman in a season while his 591 points rank fifth on Hobart's single -season list. The unanimous choice for Liberty League Player of the Year led the conference in rebounding, ranked second in scoring and field goal percentage, and was sixth in blocked shots and steals.
Bonney holds the Hobart career records for points (1,738), field goals made (680), field goal percentage (.583), and games played (114). He finished third in career rebounds (951) and fifth in free throws made (356).
Hobart went 22-7 this season, one win shy of the program record. The Statesmen captured their fourth consecutive Liberty League regular season title with a 13-3 mark and earned their second straight Liberty League Tournament Championship, defeating Vassar 75-74 in double overtime.