Davis falls quick in bid to interrupt Maravich’s scoring mark

YOUNGSTOWN — Antoine Davis outscored all of them – aside from “Pistol” Pete.

Detroit Mercy’s star guard completed 4 factors shy of surpassing Pete Maravich because the NCAA profession scoring chief on Thursday night time, scoring 22 in a gritty 71-66 loss to Youngstown State within the Horizon League match.

Davis got here in needing 26 factors to interrupt Maravich’s hallowed mark of three,667 factors that stood for over 50 years. However after choosing up his fourth foul with 3:36 left, the slender 6-foot-1 guard, who was trapped and double-teamed for a lot of his 38 minutes by the top-seeded Penguins, couldn’t drive as successfully to the basket.

With Maravich’s report nonetheless inside attain, Davis missed 4 3-pointers — certainly one of them a wide-open look — within the closing two minutes of an intense recreation.

Whereas disillusioned with the loss and falling wanting Maravich, Davis felt pleasure afterward.

“It’s actually particular,” he mentioned, leaning in opposition to a wall outdoors Detroit Mercy’s locker room. “Possibly in 20 or 25 years any person goes to be doing the identical factor that I did, chase that report, perhaps even prior to that.

“It’s only a particular feeling. I don’t take any of this without any consideration in any respect. I’m grateful for this. Blessed. I nonetheless really feel like I’m the very best scorer of my technology. No person can take that from me.”

After the ultimate buzzer, tempers briefly flared after Youngtown State’s Dwyane Cohill, who had guarded Davis for a lot of the sport, appeared to say one thing to the two-time convention participant of the 12 months.

Davis then needed to restrained as particles was thrown at him from the coed part inside Beeghly Heart.

Except Detroit Mercy will get an unlikely postseason bid, Davis finishes with 3,664 factors in 5 seasons. Maravich amassed his report in simply three years whereas enjoying for his dad, Press, and he did it earlier than there was a 3-point line or shot clock.

Davis would welcome one other shot at historical past.

“I’d like to play within the CBI, NIT, one thing,” he mentioned. “Not even for the report, simply to exit on a greater be aware.”

From the outset, it was apparent Youngstown State was decided to not let Davis break the report on its ground. The Penguins ran double groups and trapped Davis, who was held to fifteen factors earlier this season in a loss to YSU.

“That’s the respect I deserve,” he mentioned. “I’m the very best scorer within the league, so I don’t have a look at it as unfair or something like that.”

Carrying a protecting masks to guard a damaged nostril sustained earlier this season at Cincinnati, Davis began slowly in entrance of a sellout crowd and missed his first 4 photographs earlier than dropping an off-balance jumper from the highest of the important thing.

Davis completed 7 of 26 from the sphere, together with 4 of 16 on 3-pointers.

Simply weeks after LeBron James went previous Kareem Abdul-Jabbar because the NBA’s profession scoring chief, Davis simply missed his probability to high Maravich, the Corridor of Famer his father had him examine whereas studying to play as a child.

Davis had already set a number of NCAA information, together with consecutive video games in double figures (143) and 3-pointers (584). He leads Division I with 159 3s this season, 4 from breaking Stephen Curry’s report of 162 in a season (2007-08).

Standing subsequent to his son, Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis recalled the distinctive journey they took collectively.

“He labored actually exhausting through the years and he’s performed some issues that ought to blow individuals away,” the elder Davis mentioned. “Individuals thought there was no method he may get near Maravich and he obtained shut.

“He may have had it right down to 17 within the final recreation, however he had some photographs that he gave as much as his teammates. I couldn’t be extra pleased with the participant that he’s and all the things he has added to this system and college. It’s been lovely to see.”

In contrast to Davis, who was granted a fifth 12 months of eligibility as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, Maravich didn’t play as a freshman — it wasn’t allowed on the time — and there was additionally no 3-point line or shot clock, putting a premium on each possession.

It’s mind-boggling to think about that Maravich, who died in 1988 at age 40 after struggling a coronary heart assault whereas enjoying in a pickup recreation, averaged 44.2 factors with out taking or making a single 3-pointer.

But it surely additionally needs to be famous that Maravich tried 3,166 photographs whereas Davis got here in with 2,961.

Davis admitted the report was unimaginable to disregard.

“I knew it was inside attain and it was doable to get there,” he mentioned. “The double groups sort of threw me off my rhythm. I ought to have been in a position to alter and play my recreation, however I nonetheless really feel like we performed as exhausting as we may.”