Antoine Davis outlasted them all except “Pistol” Pete.
Detroit Mercy’s star guard finished within four points of passing Pete Maravich as the NCAA’s career scoring leader Thursday night, scoring 22 in a 71-66 rout of Youngstown State in the Horizon League Tournament .
Davis came in needing 26 points to break Maravich’s hallowed mark of 3,667 points that stood for more than 50 years. But after picking up his fourth foul with 3:36 left, the lanky 6-foot-1 guard, who was trapped and double-teamed for much of his 38 minutes for the top-ranked Penguins, couldn’t drive as effectively to the basket
With Maravich’s record still within reach, Davis missed four 3-pointers, one of them with an open look, in the final two minutes of an intense game.
Although he was disappointed with the loss and not making it to Maravich, Davis felt proud afterward.
“It’s really special,” he said, leaning against a wall outside Detroit Mercy’s locker room. “Maybe in 20 or 25 years someone will be doing the same thing as me, chasing that record, maybe even sooner.
“It’s just a special feeling. I don’t take any of this for granted. I’m grateful for it. Happy. I still feel like I’m the best scorer of my generation. Nobody can take that away from me.”
After the final buzzer, tempers flared briefly after Youngtown State’s Dwyane Cohill, who had guarded Davis for much of the game, appeared to say something to the two-time conference player of the year.
Davis then had to be restrained as debris was thrown at him from the student section inside the Beeghly Center.
Unless Detroit Mercy secures an unlikely postseason bid, Davis finishes with 3,664 points in five seasons. Maravich amassed his streak in just three years while playing for his father, Press, and he did it before there was a 3-point line or a shot clock.
Davis would welcome another shot at history.
“I would love to play in the CBI, NIT, something,” he said. “Not even for the record, just to leave with a better grade.”
From the start, it was obvious that Youngstown State was determined not to let Davis break the record on their floor. The Penguins ran double teams and caught Davis, who was held to 15 points earlier this season in a loss to YSU.
“This is the respect I deserve,” he said. “I’m the best goalscorer in the league, so I don’t see it as unfair or anything like that.”
Wearing a protective mask to protect a broken nose suffered earlier this season in Cincinnati, Davis got off to a slow start in front of a sold-out crowd and missed his first four shots before draining an off-balance jumper from the top of the key.
Davis finished 7-for-26 from the field, including 4-for-16 on 3-pointers.
Just weeks after LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s career scoring leader, Davis lost his chance to surpass Maravich, the Hall of Famer whose father he did study while learning to play as a child.
Davis had already set several NCAA records, including consecutive games in double figures (143) and triples (584). He leads Division I with 159 3s this season, four behind Stephen Curry’s record of 162 in a season (2007-08).
Standing next to his son, Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis recalled the unique journey they took together.
“He’s worked really hard over the years and he’s done some things that should blow people away,” the elder Davis said. “People thought they couldn’t get close to Maravich and they got close.
“He might have been down 17 in the last game, but he had some shots that he gave up to his teammates. I couldn’t be more proud of the player he is and everything he’s added to the program and the school. . It’s been nice to see.”
Unlike Davis, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maravich didn’t play as a freshman (he wasn’t allowed then) and there wasn’t a line either. 3-pointers or a shot clock. putting a premium on each possession.
It’s mind-boggling to consider that Maravich, who died in 1988 at age 40 after suffering a heart attack while playing in a pickup game, averaged 44.2 points without making a single 3-pointer.
But it should also be noted that Maravich attempted 3,166 shots while Davis came in with 2,961.
Davis admitted the record was impossible to ignore.
“I knew it was within reach and that it was possible to get there,” he said. “The double teams threw me off. I should have been able to adjust and play my game, but I still feel like we played as hard as we could.”
Report from The Associated Press.
FOX Sports Top Stories:
Get more from college basketball Follow your favorites for information on games, news and more