Detroit Mercy guard can become NCAA's all-time leading scorer

Detroit Mercy guard Antoine Davis. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Detroit Mercy guard has chance to become NCAA's all-time leading scorer

By Colum Dell | Last updated 3/2/23

Lakers star LeBron James might not be the only player to break an all-time scoring record this season.

Following a 38-point performance against Purdue Fort Wayne, Detroit Mercy guard Antoine Davis needs 26 points to surpass Pete Maravich as the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.

Davis, the NCAA's all-time leader in consecutive games in double figures and three-pointers made, is also eight threes shy of breaking Stephen Curry's single-season record. He averages 28.4 points per game this season, the most in the country, so if he maintains his pace, Davis should top Maravich's 3,667 career points.

On Thursday, eighth-seeded Detroit Mercy (14-18, 9-11) will face Youngstown State (23-8, 15-5) in the Horizon League Tournament. Youngstown State is the top seed in the tournament. If the Titans lose, it'll be Davis' last game of his collegiate career.

Antoine Davis and Detroit Mercy will face Youngstown State tonight in the 2nd round of the Horizon League tournament.

Davis needs 26 points to break Pete Maravich’s D-I record for most career points. (3,667) pic.twitter.com/OqZVvamQwo
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 2, 2023

As impressive as setting the record would be for Davis, it's worth noting how remarkable Maravich's scoring total is in comparison.

Since COVID allowed Davis to gain an additional year of eligibility, he has played 143 career games. During his college days, Maravich played only three seasons, and 83 games total, for LSU because freshmen weren't eligible to compete on the varsity team.

Furthermore, Davis is averaging 25.5 PPG for his career, while Maravich averaged a staggering 44.2 PPG and did so before the three-point line existed.

Understandably, some may be critical of Davis potentially setting the record since the fifth year "helps a lot," as he told ESPN earlier this season. Still, Davis believes it's necessary to note that his career 20.7 field goal attempts per game are significantly lower than Maravich's 38.1.

The 6-foot-1 guard also pointed out that he didn't have any NCAA tournament games to help him reach his mark, though "Pistol Pete" didn’t either. However, Davis admits he'd rather compete in one than break Maravich's record.

With a win Thursday, Davis increases his chances of breaking both the scoring and three-point records, and earning a tournament bid, even if it's unlikely Detroit Mercy will qualify.

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