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RMU’s Josh Williams ties NCAA record for three pointers, scores 49 points

It was a night of statistical oddities.

By Greg Mitchell
NCAA Basketball: MAC Conference Tournament-Akron vs Kent State
Williams shot a bunch of three’s for Akron his first two seasons.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Nothing fell for Josh Williams five days ago against Missouri State. Literally.

The Robert Morris senior wing was held scoreless (0-5 FG, 24 minutes, 4 fouls) as the Colonials took a 14-point road loss. But on Wednesday night, quite a bit fell for Williams. With the warm embrace of a home game against Div. III Mount Aloysius College, Williams poured in 49 points (15-25 3FG), tying an NCAA record with 15 made three’s in the process.

His final three came at the buzzer, drawing him even with Marshall’s Keith Veney, who hit 15 three’s against Morehead State in 1996. Not as dramatically, the final three sealed the Colonials winning margin at 47 points.

To commemorate the accomplishment, here’s a fact for each three made by Williams:

  • Williams’ previous career high was 22 points, which he did twice as a freshman at Akron during the 2015-16 season.
  • His previous career high in three pointers made was six, which he hit in both of his 22-point games.
  • His previous career high in three-point attempts was 11, which he did twice his sophomore year at Akron.
  • His 49 points set a Robert Morris single game scoring record.
  • He attempted just one two-point field goal Wednesday night (which he made).
  • He got to the free throw line just once, making both shots.
  • He’s attempted four times as many three’s (336) than two’s (82) over his career.
  • He’s a 37.8 percent career three-point shooter, and was 4-for-15 on the season coming into Wednesday night’s game.
  • Given the blowout, Williams played just 31 minutes, which is less than he played in a season-opening loss to USC (34).
  • His 0-fer against Missouri State was just the third time he’s logged time without making a field goal in his career, which included two seasons as a regular for the Zips.
  • Michigan went 5-for-17 from three in its blowout win over Villanova Wednesday. Again, Williams went 15-for-25 by himself.
  • Williams (49) outscored the defending champion Wildcats (46) on his own.
  • The Citadel shot 37.5 percent (not bad!) on 48 three-point attempts in its 137-60 win Wednesday, and still made just three more three’s (18) than Williams did by himself.
  • The most recent high-water three-point mark was Iona’s A.J. English hitting 13 against Fairfield in 2015.
  • And, at the buzzer, before that, Georgia State’s R.J. Hunter hit 12 against UTSA in 2013.

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