HIGH POINT, N.C. – Senior Kenny Thomas (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) became the 23rd player in Radford men's basketball history to hit the 1,000-point plateau and the Highlanders grabbed a share of the top spot in the Big South with a 65-52 victory over High Point Saturday at the Millis Athletic Center.

“The feeling I have right now is indescribable,” said Thomas. “I'm so excited about the way this team is playing and has come together. I've never been one to focus on individual goals, but to score my 1,000 point and to come out on top means a lot. I'd like to thank all my coaches and teammates for helping me get to where I am today.”

On its longest winning streak since the 2001-02 campaign, Radford (9-9, 6-1) has won five straight and six consecutive against league competition. The Highlanders are also off to their best start in conference play since recording a 12-2 mark in conference play during the 1999-2000 slate.

Radford held the Panthers to just 31.7 percent (19-60) from the floor, including an 8-of-31 (25.8 percent) showing in the second half.

“To win on the road against a good team like High Point was a result of great team defense and balanced offense,” commented Radford head coach Brad Greenberg.

Thomas led five Highlanders in double figures with 14 points, including four buckets from downtown. Joey Lynch-Flohr (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) added 13, while Eric Hall (Greensboro, N.C./Ben L. Smith) contributed 11 points off the bench for the third time in as many contests. Art Parakhouski (Minsk, Belarus) and Chris McEachin (Norfolk, Va./Norview) also hit double digits with 10 points each.

“I thought Chris and Eric were outstanding off the bench tonight. Eric's nine second-half points and Chris' steal and basket midway through the second helped us open up the game,” said Greenberg.

A Hall putback at the 12:11 mark of the second half broke a 41-41 deadlock and sparked a 13-5 Highlander run to give them the advantage for good.

High Point (5-12, 1-6) cut the deficit to five, 56-51, on a pair of Jourdan Morris free throws with 3:24 left, but wouldn't get any closer as Thomas hit the milestone with his final trey of the night the next trip down the floor to put the game out of reach.

Playing against a zone defense for much of the contest, the Highlanders only committed seven turnovers, which was a season-low.

Nick Barbour and David Singleton led High Point with 12 points each.

After the two teams battled back and forth to find themselves tied 20-20, Thomas drilled his third triple of the first half and Lynch-Flohr followed with a hook shot the next possession to put Radford up, 25-20. High Point quickly erased the largest lead for either team in the period as it closed on a small spurt to head into the break up, 28-27.

This evening's contest featured 12 ties and eight lead changes.

Each of the Highlanders' wins in conference play have come by double-digit margins.

Radford, which is now tied for first place in the Big South standings with VMI, will host the Keydets Wednesday evening in the newly renovated Dedmon Center at 7 p.m.

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