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The Tuscaloosa News
Eyeing Elite Eight, Alabama basketball's Mark Sears chasing Larry Bird in record books
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Eyeing Elite Eight, Alabama basketball's Mark Sears chasing Larry Bird in record books
NEWARK, N.J. — Alabama star Mark Sears is one double-digit scoring game away from passing one of the most iconic Hall of Famers in college and professional basketball.
With 34 points against BYU on Thursday to advance from the Crimson Tide 's third consecutive Sweet 16 , the All-American reached No. 19 on the men's career scoring list with 2,833 points in five seasons from Ohio to Alabama (28-8).
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Now, Sears is just 18 points away from eclipsing three-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star Larry Bird.
Eyeing Elite Eight, Alabama basketball's Mark Sears chasing legendary Larry Bird in record books
Although "the Hick from French Lick's" 2,850 points took place over just three seasons at Indiana State, Sears is still among rare company.
Sears' 10 3-pointers against BYU saw him pass Houston's Otis Birdsong (2,832), who spent 12 seasons in the league. In recent games, Sears also has passed notables including Duke alum J.J. Redick (2,769) and even Steph Curry (2,635), although the "Baby-Faced Assassin" only spent three seasons at Davidson.
Mark Sears of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a basket against BYU during the second half in the East Regional Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Prudential Center on March 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. Patrick Smith/Getty Images
It's safe to say Sears won't have the chance to close in on overall career scoring leader Pete Maravich, who dropped a career-high 69 points at Alabama on Feb. 7, 1970, which was 16 years before the three-point line was even invented. Among the 12 collegiate players who have scored more than 3,000 points, Maravich leads the way with 3,667, just a trey ahead of Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis, who now plays for the G-League Stockton Kings.
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On the season, Sears is averaging 19 points per game while putting up three boards and over five assists per contest. If the Muscle Shoals native keeps putting up 19-plus in up to three remaining games for the Crimson Tide, he could have at least 2,890 points. That total would surpass 2,884 points scored by Elvin Hayes, who was at Houston 1966-68.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball's Mark Sears chasing Larry Bird's records at Elite Eight
