It may come as no surprise that Dan Thomas is the first
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford cager from Australia to score
1,000 career points at the institution.

Thomas became the 18th men’s basketball player at Pitt-Bradford
to reach the milestone in the Panthers’ 77-57 non-conference loss
to Geneseo State at the Sport & Fitness Center on
Wednesday.

The 5-9 senior guard, who hails from Perth on the west coast of
the Land Down Under, attained the millennium mark 50 seconds into
the contest when he drove the left side of the lane, banked home a
layup and was fouled. Thomas, who is a an 82 percent free throw
shooter on the season, then swished the ensuing foul shot to
qualify for the 1,000 point banner hanging in the gym.

“It’s a good milestone for him (Thomas),” said Andy Moore,
Pitt-Bradford head coach. “He’s worked hard in his four years here
and is having a good senior year so far.”

Thomas’ achievement was one of the lone bright spots of the
contest as the visiting Blue Knights were pretty much makin’what
they were takin’ with a 56 percent average (32-for-57) from the
floor. Geneseo shot 59 percent in the first half, 54 percent over
the final 20 minutes and put five players in double-figure
scoring.

“Our defense was poor and that’s two games in a row where we
lost our way from where we were,” Moore said, referring to the
seven-game winning streak in November and December. “We’re not very
focused and our effort isn’t very good.”

After the Panthers took their last lead (19-18) of the evening
on a three-pointer by Jon Hannon, the Blue Knights opened a 28-22
margin on a layup by Brian Bennett with 6:14 left in the half.

A trifecta by Ryan Race cut the deficit to 30-29 with 4:31
showing, but Geneseo ended the initial stanza on a 12-3 run to
carry a 42-31 bulge into the intermission.

“We let them (Blue Knights) get to the basket with some easy
layups,” Moore recalled. “It was a breakdown on defense.”

Following the break, two free throws by Thomas pulled the
Panthers within 11 once again at 44-33 with 18:42 remaining, but
that was a close as the hosts could get as the Blue Knights enjoyed
a 23-point lead at one juncture.

“You let a team like that gain confidence and they made some
shots,” Moore explained. “They shot 56 percent and a lot of those
were layups.”

Scott Morton had 20 points, Bennett and Steve McDonnell
registered 14 points apiece, Tarik Kitson added 10 points and 11
rebounds, and Olean’s Greg Spears contributed 10 points and six
assists for Geneseo (5-3).

Thomas was the only Panther in double figures with 13
points.

Pitt-Bradford (7-4, 4-0) travels to Frostburg State (4-6, 3-1)
for an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference encounter on
Saturday.

“We have to get this straightened out,” Moore declared. “This is
a league game and we’re struggling right now. There are so many
things going wrong it’s hard to put a finger on them.”