Dec. 30, 2005

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy junior David Rhoiney (Long Beach, Calif.) will have reconstructive surgery on his left thumb next week and will miss the remainder of the basketball season. The third-year guard has been hampered with injuries throughout his career at the Academy and has been bothered by the thumb injury the entire season. Rhoiney sat out the first six games nursing his thumb before seeing his first action of the season Dec. 18 against Washington (Md.). He went on to see action at Yale and earned a starting nod at Brown where he played 10 minutes. Rhoiney re-injured his thumb in practice earlier this week.

"We are disappointed for David that he will miss the rest of the season," said second-year Navy head coach Billy Lange. "David is a young man who has dealt with multiple injuries during his career, but he has fought through them. We are hopeful he will be able to overcome this setback, as well."

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