On January 31, 1970, college basketball witnessed a moment that would echo through the halls of NCAA history. That night, in a packed LSU Assembly Center, “Pistol” Pete Maravich etched his name into the record books as the all-time scoring leader in men’s NCAA basketball history.
The Road to Baton Rouge
Pete Maravich’s journey to basketball immortality was paved with constant movement and a father’s influence. Born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Pete was a basketball vagabond through no fault of his own.
His father, Press Maravich, was a college basketball coach whose career took the family across the South.
Press first accepted a job at Clemson, prompting a move to South Carolina. Not long after, he joined the staff at NC State in North Carolina, always with the hope of someday coaching his son.
That opportunity came in 1966 when LSU hired Press as their head coach — a move where Press would look to lure his son to Baton Rouge. Pete to Baton Rouge. Though Pete initially had dreams of playing at West Virginia, his father made him an offer he couldn’t refuse: a new car if he signed with LSU. The deal was done. Maravich headed south.
Chasing the Big O
Because NCAA rules at the time required freshmen to sit out their first year, Pete would only get three seasons of varsity basketball. Still, from his very first shot as a sophomore, it was clear he was gunning for greatness. Specifically, Pete had Oscar Robertson’s NCAA scoring record in his sights — 2,973 points.
Over his first two seasons, Maravich averaged an astounding 44 points per game. Entering his senior year, he needed 687 points to surpass “The Big O.” By January 31, 1970, LSU hosted Ole Miss, and Pete was just 41 points shy of the record.
A Night to Remember
Maravich dropped 25 points in the first half. Midway through the second, he tied the record — and then the crowd waited.
He missed five straight shots. The anticipation was building.
Then came the call from the announcer box:
“It won’t fit in the hole. Maravich has missed like five straight shots now. Here they come again. 93–76. LSU leading. It’s to Pete — a 21-footer…”
Swish.
The game stopped as his teammates lifted him onto their shoulders and paraded him around the court. LSU would go on to beat Ole Miss 109–86, with Pete finishing the night with 53 points.
After the game, Maravich humbly paid tribute to the legend he had just surpassed:
“Someone of Oscar Robertson’s stature… I think he’s probably the greatest basketball player ever played. I followed him ever since I was a young boy… I always felt he was the greatest.”
A Record That Still Stands
Pete Maravich still had 13 regular season games left that year. LSU received an NIT bid and made it to the semifinals before falling to Marquette. By the time he played his final college game, Pete had scored a staggering 3,667 points — all in just three seasons, without the benefit of a three-point line or a shot clock.
The longevity of his record speaks volumes. In 2023, Caitlin Clark surpassed that total with 3,951 points over four seasons for Iowa. And Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis came heartbreakingly close, finishing just four points short — though his run included a fifth season made possible by the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility exception.
Still, no one has matched what Maravich did: 44.2 points per game, every point hard-earned in a game that moved slower and offered no bonus from beyond the arc.
Pete Maravich’s record isn’t just a number. It’s a monument to skill, flair, and unrelenting will — a reminder of a time when college basketball was painted with a pistol’s brushstroke.
