Dec. 15, 2008

• PL Release (12-15-08)
• Mid-Major Poll | AP Poll

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy senior guard Kaleo Kina was named one of four finalists for the Mid-Major Player of the Week by the web site, CollegeHoopsNet.com, the site announced on Monday afternoon. In addition, Kina was named the Patriot League Player of the Week for the third straight week for his role in the Mids' win over Mount St. Mary's.

North Dakota State's Ben Woodside was named the Mid-Major Player of the Week by the web site, while Kina, Davidson's Stephen Curry and Central Connecticut State's Ken Horton were the other three finalists.

Kina was noted for a pair of performances in the last eight days, averaging 22.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 5.0 apg against Virginia Tech and Mount St. Mary's. In the Mids' 79-70 loss to Virginia Tech, Kina scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals as Navy saw its seven-game winning streak snapped. However, the Mids righted the ship in last Tuesday's 68-65 win over 2008 NCAA Tournament participant Mount St. Mary's, as Kina torched the Moutaineers' defense for 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kina was 10-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line against Mount St. Mary's, while scoring 20 of his 26 points after the halftime break as Navy erased a five-point halftime deficit. Kina scored 16 of Navy's last 25 points in the victory.

Kina leads the Patriot League, and is 26th nationally, in scoring at 20.8 ppg and ranks third in rebounding at 6.2 rpg. He has scored at least 26 points in five of the last seven games, including a career-high 30 points in an overtime win over Radford on Nov. 29. Kina also ranks ninth in assists per game (2.9).

Kina was named the Patriot League Player of the Week for the third straight week, becoming the first Navy player and fifth player in league history to be named Patriot League Player of the Week three straight times. Just one player, Bucknell's Patrick King in the 1991-92 season, has won the award four straight weeks. The last player to win three straight Player of the Week honors was Holy Cross' Keith Simmons in the 2006-07 campaign. The two other players to win three striaght Player of the Week awards were Tim Szatko of Holy Cross (2000-01 season) and Lafayette's Stefan Ciosici (1997-98 season).

Navy returned to the Associated Press poll, garnering one vote for the top 25 for the second time in three weeks. The Mids received one vote in the Dec. 1 poll, but after falling to Virginia Tech on Dec. 7, did not receive any votes in last week's poll. However, following their win over Mount St. Mary's, the Mids are among others receiving votes, ranking 45th among all teams.

In addition, Navy earned three more votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll, raising its total to 29 to move into 36th place in the poll. Navy is the highest Patriot League team (Lehigh -- 12 votes; American -- 10 votes) ranked in the poll.

Following an 11-day layoff for final exams, Navy will return to the court on Saturday, Dec. 20, with a trip to Buffalo, N.Y., to face Canisius, beginning at 2:00 pm. Navy will then close out its pre-Christmas slate with a visit to 17th-ranked Villanova on Monday, Dec. 22, beginning at 7:30 pm.

# GO NAVY #