Myron MedcalfESPN Staff Writer4 Minute Read
Antoine Davis falls simply in need of scoring document in Detroit Mercy’s loss
Detroit Mercy is eradicated from the Horizon League match as Antoine Davis falls three factors shy of Pete Maravich’s all-time scoring document.
With solely a handful of seconds on the sport clock standing between him and immortality, Detroit Mercy star Antoine Davis launched a 3-pointer.
But Davis, who had been chilly all recreation, missed as time expired, and Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I profession scoring mark of three,667 factors was preserved in Youngstown State 71-66 win over Detroit Mercy in a Horizon League match quarterfinal matchup on Thursday.
Davis, the fifth-year star who entered Thursday’s recreation needing 26 factors to surpass Maravich, completed with 22 within the loss. Afterward, he mentioned he feels good about his profession and his option to return to Detroit Mercy, the place his father, Mike Davis, is head coach.
Davis had hoped to not solely break Maravich’s document this season but in addition lead his staff to its first NCAA match look in additional than a decade.
“Just particular,” Davis mentioned about his profession at Detroit Mercy. “I had the chance to play for my dad. I used to be a few factors in need of the document. God is aware of what he is doing.”
But is Davis’ faculty profession over?
After the loss, each Davis and his father mentioned they might welcome an invite to the College Basketball InvitationaI or one other postseason match, which might doubtlessly permit Davis to proceed his pursuit of Maravich’s document. The Titans completed 14-19 general and Sep 11 in Horizon League play, so there aren’t any ensures they might safe an invitation.
But the CBI selects groups from the pool of colleges that do not get picked for the NCAA match or the NIT. A program with a sub-.500 document remains to be eligible to be chosen. But all CBI entrants should pay a $50,000 payment.
“The NCAA match is the aim,” Antoine Davis mentioned after the loss on Thursday. “I would not have an issue with [the CBI]. I’m positive none of my teammates would have an issue with it.”
Mike Davis mentioned if a postseason match provides Detroit Mercy the chance to play one other recreation, he would seek the advice of his staff about it.
“If they wish to play, we’ll play,” the elder Davis mentioned. “If they do not wish to play and it is time to transfer on, we can’t play.”
Antoine Davis mentioned he did not really feel any stress getting into Thursday’s recreation. Even when the ultimate shot left his palms, he mentioned he was desirous about shifting ahead within the league match.
“I noticed that I used to be actually shut and I had an opportunity [to tie the record], however I used to be extra frightened about us profitable the sport than something,” he informed ESPN.
Davis had confronted scrutiny for the way in which he pursued the document. He performed in 144 video games and 5 seasons in contrast with three seasons and 83 video games for Maravich, who did not play with a 3-point line. But Davis additionally mentioned he respects Maravich’s mark.
Youngstown State appeared decided to stop Davis from making historical past at its expense. He received trapped on most of his staff’s possessions, as Youngstown State tried to pressure him into powerful seems. Davis completed 7-for-26 from the sphere, together with 4-for-16 from the 3-point line. He mentioned he anticipated that stress on Thursday.
“Nobody within the nation can guard me one-on-one and that is been confirmed,” Davis informed ESPN after the sport. “I can not be mad about it. If I had somebody like me on their staff, I’d have executed the identical factor. That’s the sport plan on the finish of the day.”
Now, Davis will presumably finish his profession simply shy of Maravich’s document.
Mike Davis mentioned each Maravich and his son achieved one thing particular in faculty basketball.
“People would have put an asterisk by his title if he would’ve damaged [the record],” Mike Davis mentioned after the sport. “Pistol Pete was in a world of his personal and there’ll by no means be one other Pistol Pete in faculty basketball. I feel there’ll by no means be one other Antoine the way in which he scored in 144 consecutive video games.”
If he would not get one other alternative to play, Antoine Davis mentioned he can be pleased with the way in which he and his staff competed all through his profession. Even although he did not match or move Maravich’s document, he mentioned he’s proud of what he has achieved.
Said Davis: “I’m grateful to even be in the identical boat as Pistol Pete.”
