MATTHEW Dellavedova added another record to his stellar college basketball career yesterday when he became the greatest scorer in St Mary’s Gaels history.
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Going into yesterday’s clash with Santa Clara, the Maryborough-raised guard needed four points to break the all-time points scoring record held by Daniel Kickert with 1874.
![Matthew Dellavedova has become the greatest scorer in St Mary's Gaels history. Matthew Dellavedova has become the greatest scorer in St Mary's Gaels history.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-yUj9amy7VV7LkJfLe7Bay3/5a8bca5d-10f1-43e8-b15e-1fdebc9981e2.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
He made his first basket inside the first two minutes, but had to wait until inside the final four minutes of the half to break the record when he nailed a jump shot.
He went on to score 21 points to lead the Gaels to a 80-67 win in the final regular season game.
“All that mattered to Matthew today was winning the game,’’ Dellavedova’s mother, Leanne, said from her Maryborough home.
“I know that he’d be honoured to break the record, but the most important thing for him is for his team to win the game.”
It was the final home game for Dellavedova, who will graduate from St Mary’s in May.
He was given a standing ovation by Gaels’ fans before the game and again when he broke the record.
Dellavedova also holds school records in assists, three-point shooting and games started.
Gaels coach Randy Bennett echoed Leanne’s comments.
“The best thing about Matt is he couldn’t care less about the scoring, the assists, any of that. He cares about his team winning,” Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett said.
“It’s pretty easy to coach when your best player, all-time leading scorer, all-time in assists, the most important thing to him is his team wins.”
Matthew’s father, Mark, said ensuring the Gaels earn a berth at this month’s NCAA tournament would be his son’s number one goal at the moment.
“It’s nice to get the record and it will be nice to look back on a latter date,’’ Mark Dellavedova said.
“But he’s that busy over there, he doesn’t have time to think about those things.
“The focus now will turn straight away to the Las Vegas tournament.”
The Las Vegas tournament is the West Coast Conference play-offs where the Gaels are seeded second behind Gonzaga.
The top two seeds advance straight to next Sunday’s semi-finals.
The Gaels are likely to face BYU in their semi-final.
The winner of the WCC championship will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA championship which involves the best 64 teams in the United States.
Last week Dellavedova was named in the top 30 candidates for the prestigious Naismith College Player of the Year award.
He is also a finalist for the Cousy Award which recognises the best point guard in college basketball.
Dellavedova, who represented Australia at last year’s Olympics, continues to be flagged as a possible NBA draftee.
Latest draft predictions have Dellavedova as a possible late second round selection.
The NBA draft will be held in June.