Mariano nets 1,000th point at Keene State

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Keene State College mens basketball coach Rob Colbert presents senior Anthony Mariano, a graduate of Naugatuck High School, with his 1,000th point career ball Jan. 12. –MICHELLE BERTHIAUME
Keene State College mens basketball coach Rob Colbert presents senior Anthony Mariano, a graduate of Naugatuck High School, with his 1,000th point career ball Jan. 12. –MICHELLE BERTHIAUME

KEENE, N.H. — Former Naugatuck High standout basketball player Anthony Mariano joined the 1,000-point career club at Keene State College this month.

Mariano, a senior swingman for the Owls, scored his 1,000th point Jan. 12 against Rhode Island College. Mariano achieved the milestone in style, making a steal and going in for an uncontested lay-up against the Anchormen early in the first half, according to a release issued by Keene State.

Mariano became the 29th mens basketball player at the college to reach 1,000 points.

“It’s a great honor for Anthony. He becomes a member of a very prestigious group of men’s basketball players at Keene State,” Keene State Coach Rob Colbert said in the release. “He’ll tell you that’s it’s not a big deal, but I think it is.”

Mariano is no stranger to scoring 1,000th points. He hit the mark during his four years at Naugatuck High and racked up multiple other honors during high school, including All-State, All-Area and All-Conference honors as a senior.

This season, Mariano is the Owls’ second leading scorer with 14.3 point per game. He’s also third on the team in rebounding with 4.7 rebounds a game.

Mariano followed up the game against Rhode Island College by scoring 25 points, pulling down four rebounds and dishing two assists Jan. 19 against UMass-Dartmouth.

“I got in a nice rhythm,” said Mariano, who was also named the Little East Conference player of the week.  “I just know when it’s my time to go 100 percent. I think we’re getting hot at the right time.”