Twenty-nine years ago yesterday (Feb. 27, 1990), Lionel Simmons scored 29 points in an easy win over Army to raise his career total to 3,071 and in so doing, passed Texas Southern’s Harry Kelly (3,066) for third place on the NCAA Division I scoring list. The La Salle great, who finished his career with 3,217 points, has remained in that spot to this day . . . but maybe only for another week or two . . .
Campbell’s Chris Clemons poured in 32 points yesterday to give him 3,106 in his career, which is sixth all-time and 111 behind Simmons. He could play anywhere from two to 10 more games (the 10th being the NCAA Championship Game).
We are not rooting against Clemons to pass Simmons – 29 years is a very long time to hold such a lofty spot – but we will not be heartbroken if the Campbell star doesn’t quite get there.
The Fighting Camels (11-4 Big South) close their regular season when Radford (12-3) visits Saturday with the top seed (and the automatic NIT bid, if needed) on the line. Unless they win Saturday and finish first, the Camels (NET 229) may not get a lower postseason tournament bid if it does not win the Big South Tournament.
Needing 111 points to pass Lionel, here is what Clemons would need to average over the rest of the season to reach third place:
2 Games . . . 55.5
3 Games . . . 37.0
4 Games . . . 27.8
5 Games . . . 22.2
6 Games . . . 18.5
7 Games . . . 15.9
Meanwhile, South Dakota State’s Mike Daum is at 3,006 career points and couning.
The Jackrabbits host Southern Illinois Saturday in their regular season finale and then head to Sioux Falls, S.D., for as many as three games in the Summit League Tournament (March 9-12). If they win the regular season conference championship (they lead Omaha by a half-game), they will earn at least an automatic NIT bid. If not, their NET ranking (99 through Tuesday) – and Daum’s scoring prowess - may or may not be enough to get them an NIT at-large spot and give Daum more games to climb the scoring ladder himself.
Here are the NCAA Division I career scoring leaders through Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2019:
3,667 . . . Pete Maravich
3,249 . . . Freeman Williams
3,217 . . . Lionel Simmons
3,165 . . . Alphonso Ford
3,150 . . . Doug McDermott
3,106 . . . Chris Clemons
3,066 . . . Harry Kelly
3,058 . . . Keydren Clark
3,008 . . . Hersey Hawkins
3,006 . . . Mike Daum