Top 12 Most Points Scored In A College Basketball Game

• Position: Guard
• Team: Alliant International
• Opponent: Loyola Marymount Lions
• Date: January 5, 1991

Kevin Bradshaw, a former American professional basketball player gained notable recognition for his exceptional achievement in a college basketball match, setting a record.

On January 5, 1991, Bradshaw achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 72 points during a match against Loyola Marymount University while representing U.S. International University.

Bradshaw’s performance broke the previous NCAA record for most points scored against a Division I opponent, which was 69 points set by Pete Maravich in a 1970 game.

Despite his individual accomplishment, his team still lost the game to Loyola Marymount with a score of 186-140. Bradshaw led the NCAA in scoring as a senior in the 1990–91 season, averaging 37.6 points per game.

• Position: Guard
• Team: LSU Tigers
• Opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide
• Date: February 7, 1970

On February 7, 1970, at a crowded Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Pete Maravich, the impressive ball handler nicknamed "Pistol Pete," solidified his position in the annals of college basketball.

The 6-foot-5 senior from LSU delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring an unprecedented 69 points against the Alabama Crimson Tide. This achievement endured for five decades and remains the most prolific scoring game in SEC history.

Despite experiencing strained muscles in his legs, Maravich still scored 22 points in the initial half and an impressive 47 points in the latter half. He successfully made 26 out of 57 field goals and 17 out of 21 free throws.

Nevertheless, despite Maravich's extraordinary performance, LSU ended up losing the game with a score of 106-104. This record remained unbroken for 21 years until it was surpassed by Kevin Bradshaw.

• Position: Guard
• Team: Niagara Purple Eagles
• Opponent: Syracuse Orange
• Date: December 7, 1968

In 1968, the Niagara Student Center in Lewiston, NY witnessed an explosive event. Calvin Murphy, the diminutive powerhouse, set the court ablaze with a performance that shattered records.

Facing Syracuse, Murphy smashed an astonishing 68 points, delivering a torrent of jumpers, skillfully maneuvering past defenders, and captivating the audience.

He successfully made 24 out of 46 attempts, including numerous long-range shots. He scored consistently in both halves, registering 34 points in the first half and another 34 in the second.

Despite Bill Smith's impressive 41-point contribution for Syracuse, Murphy's offensive onslaught led Niagara to a 118-110 victory, securing his permanent place in college basketball history for one of the most remarkable scoring displays.

• Position: Forward
• Team: Washington and Lee Generals
• Opponent: Furman Paladins
• Date: February 17, 1951

Jay Handlan, a forward representing Washington and Lee University, gained widespread acclaim for his remarkable achievement in a college basketball match against Furman University on February 17, 1951.

Despite initially missing his first seven shots, Handlan unleashed a scoring fury, pouring in 66 points, a performance still among the top five records for the most points scored by a single player in NCAA Division I history.

Handlan went on to make 30 successful field goals out of 71 attempts. This record-setting performance took place during a 97-82 victory over Furman University.

Notably, he scored 49 of these points in the first half alone. Handlan's record for the most field goal attempts in a game is still unbroken to this day.

• Position: Guard
• Team: LSU Tigers
• Opponent: Tulane Green Wave
• Date: February 10, 1969

Legendary basketball player Pete Maravich etched his name into college basketball history with a dazzling display of scoring prowess.

Even before his 69-point game which came a year later, Maravich poured in a then-career-high 66 points, in a game against Tulane University on February 10, 1969.

This particular game ranks as the fourth-highest-scoring performance ever recorded against a Division I opponent. Maravich's ability to score was not confined to this single instance; he holds the top three spots for the highest point-per-game totals in Division I history.

During the 1970 season, Maravich achieved an impressive feat by scoring 1,381 points, maintaining an average of 44.5 points per game, setting records that still stand as the highest in Division I history.

• Position: Forward | Guard
• Team: Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
• Opponent: North Carolina A&T Aggies
• Date: February 19, 1977

Anthony Roberts, a former basketball player for Oral Roberts University (ORU), is known for his outstanding display against North Carolina A&T on February 19, 1977, where he scored a blistering 66 points.

This accomplishment distinguished him as one of just two athletes in NCAA Division I history, alongside Pete Maravich, to achieve the feat of scoring 60 or more points in a single game against a Division I opponent on multiple occasions.

Roberts' impressive scoring performance played a crucial role in the Golden Eagles' 110-64 triumph. His scoring spree was not a selfish spectacle as he humbly noted his two assists for his teammates in that matchup.

• Position: Guard
• Team: Evansville Purple Aces
• Opponent: Dayton Flyers
• Date: February 18, 1989

Scott Haffner made a lasting mark on the history of college basketball with a remarkable display on February 18th, 1989.

While representing the University of Evansville in a game against Dayton, Haffner delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring an impressive 65 points. This achievement remains unmatched and holds the record for the highest single-game scoring in the history of the Aces.

Additionally, achieving this feat places him among the six leading players in terms of points scored in a single Division I game. Despite the intense pressure, Haffner's contribution played a crucial role in guiding the Purple Aces to a 109-83 win.

Following his college years, Haffner continued his basketball career with a two-year stint in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the Miami Heat in the 1989-90 season and the Charlotte Hornets in the 1990-91 season.

• Position: Guard
• Team: Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
• Opponent: Oregon Ducks
• Date: March 9, 1977

Anthony Roberts' 65-point performance in the 1977 NIT against Oregon remains one of the most electrifying scoring displays in college basketball history.

Playing for Oral Roberts, Roberts went off, pouring in shots from all over the court and hit the 65-point mark against the Oregon Ducks on March 9th, 1997.

Despite his heroics, Oral Roberts fell just short, losing 90-89. But Roberts' individual effort etched his name in the record books, setting the NIT single-game scoring record that still stands today.

Roberts' display in this match is frequently eclipsed by his outstanding performance of 66 points against North Carolina A&T.

• Position: Guard
• Team: LSU Tigers
• Opponent: Kentucky Wildcats
• Date: February 21, 1970

The LSU Tigers took on the formidable Kentucky Wildcats in a nationally broadcast match on February 21, 1970.

The spotlight was on Pete Maravich, as he was already making a name for himself with impressive performances nationwide. Maravich lived up to the expectations, leaving a lasting mark in college basketball history by scoring an incredible 64 points.

In a showdown between All-Americans, Pete Maravich's scoring clinic was a display of pure offensive wizardry and he outscored Dan Issel, but despite Maravich's 64 points compared to Issel's 51, second-ranked Kentucky triumphed over Louisiana State with a final score of 121-105.

This marked a career-high for him at home and stood as the third-highest point total in his illustrious career.

• Position: Guard
• Team: Bradley Braves
• Opponent: Detroit Mercy Titans
• Date: February 22, 1988

The former Philadelphia 76ers guard Hersey Hawkins had an unforgettable night during a college basketball game on February 22, 1988.

Hawkins made a big mark in his school and conference by scoring an impressive 63 points against Detroit Mercy. He was already the top scorer in Division I with an average of 36.3 points per game in 1987-88.

In that game, Hawkins exhibited his scoring crafts with a combination of smooth jump shots and exciting drives to the basket.

Hawkins' offensive clinic saw him surpass the school and conference records, previously held by Oscar Robertson himself.

• Position: Forward | Guard
• Team: Bradley Ole Miss Rebels
• Opponent: LSU Tigers
• Date: January 30, 1971

In the pantheon of college basketball's explosive scorers, Johnny Neumann's 63-point outburst against LSU in 1971 stands tall.

As a sophomore at Ole Miss, Neumann, nicknamed "Johnny Reb," had already set tongues wagging with his 40-point average, chasing the ghost of Pistol Pete Maravich's scoring dominance.

Against the Tigers, Neumann was on fire, raining down jumpers and carried the Rebels to a 113-90 victory. Among his other strong performances include a 60-point game against Baylor University in December 1970.

At the end of the season, Neumann received All-America recognition and was named SEC Player of the Year in 1971.

• Position: Shooting Guard
• Team: Utah Valley Wolverines
• Opponent: Chicago State Cougars
• Date: January 29, 2009

Ryan Toolson made a lasting mark in the annals of college basketball by scoring a career-high 63 points during a thrilling quadruple-overtime contest between the Utah Valley and the Chicago State.

In an intense matchup on January 29th, 2009, that lasted 60 minutes, Toolson demonstrated his exceptional offensive skills, hitting 11 of 20 two-pointers and an impressive 7 of 11 from beyond the three-point line.

His remarkable performance not only led the Wolverines to a narrow 123-121 victory but also earned him national acclaim. The 63-point masterpiece by Toolson stands as the sole instance of a player scoring 60+ points in a single game among the top 12 records in the 21st century.