GREENSBURG — Scoring 1,000 points is a milestone for any high school or college basketball player.

But doing so coming off the bench?

Unheard of.

Unless you’re Mike Connelly.

The Butler resident and St. Joseph High School graduate recently scored the 1,000th point of his college career at Pitt-Greensburg. He started 10 games his freshman year, one as a sophomore — and hasn’t started since.

“I like it that way,” Connelly said. “I enioy sitting and watching the flow of the game before I come in.

“I pretty much play starter’s minutes. I just don’t start.”

Connelly is averaging 14.4 points and four rebounds per game. He has drained 40 3-pointers and is shooting 75 percent from the free throw line.

He just doesn’t care to be on the floor for the opening tip.

“We started him in a few games his freshman year,” UPG coach Sean Strickland said. “Then Mike and I talked and he disclosed that he felt more comfortable coming in off the bench.

“He likes to take a few minutes to get mentally ready for what’s happening on the court before he enters the game after three or four minutes. It works for him — and it’s been working for us.”

Pitt-Greensburg has a 14-8 overall record this season. The team is 11-4 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play, but is coming off an 81-74 upset loss at La Roche.

“That probably cost us the No. 1 seed in the (AMCC) tournament,” Strickland said. “Regardless, we have eight seniors on this team and we have high expectations.

“Pitt-Greensburg has never gotten the automatic bid for the national tournament through winning the conference tournament. This group would like to do that.”

Connelly is the third member of the senior class to crack the 1,000-point barrier, joining Jerell Figueroa (18.4 ppg.) and Rocco Contristano (16.1). A fourth member of that class, Marcus Thomas, figures to reach 1,000 before the end of the regular season.

“We’re part of the best recruiting class in the school’s history. I really believe that,” Connelly said.

His coach agreed.

“Getting four 1,000-point scorers out of the same recruiting class is unheard of,” Strickland said.

Connelly is one of the more versatile players on the team as well.

While Strickland described Connelly as “instant offense” coming off the bench, the coach acknowledged his skills in other areas — particularly leadership.

“Mike plays a wing for us because he can do so many things,” the coach said. “We can post him up or he can hit the 3s. He gives us flexibility on offense.

“He’s a glue guy on defense. He knows where he’s supposed to be and makes sure everyone else is where they should be. He has a natural ability to lead people. When he comes off the bench, he provides an instant spark.

“His true strength is what he brings offensively. He reads things so well,” Strickland added.

Pitt-Greensburg averages 82 points per game overall, 89 per contest in conference play, using a fast-paced tempo.

“It’s a blessing to be able to play with these guys,” Connelly said. “They’re not only great players, they’re great people. We’ve had a lot of fun together.”

Connelly also was a 1,000-point scorer in high school.

“I never envisioned myself reaching that point in college, especially in my role here,” he said. “But going into this season, when I saw where my total was at, it became a bit of a goal.”

Connelly is majoring in business management and is lining up job interviews now.

But he still has business to take care of on the court.

“We saw that he was a natural leader in high school,” Strickland said. “Players really responded to him. It’s been the same way here.

“When he’s up, we’re up. When he’s down, we’re all down. He rarely reacts negatively to anything on the court because he sets the mood for the entire team.”