In 1954, Bill Sexton, a junior basketball star at Saint John's University, scored 49 points in a single game against Macalester, setting a program record that still stands 70 years later. His historic performance earned him All-American honors and secured the MIAC scoring title for the season. Despite the passage of time, Sexton's record remains unmatched, with numerous players coming close but falling short over the years.

By the Numbers
  • Bill Sexton scored 49 points in a single game against Macalester in 1954, setting a program record that still stands.
  • Devean George of Augsburg scored 52 points in 1999, breaking the MIAC single-game record, but Sexton's 49-point performance remains the third-highest single-game total in MIAC history.
State of Play
  • Bill Sexton's grandson, Tommy Ornburg, is currently one of the team's student managers.
  • Sexton's family has a strong legacy at SJU, with his contributions leading to the naming of the Sexton Commons on campus, the basketball court in Warner Palaestra, and the creation of the Joyce and William Sexton Family Endowed Scholarship.
Bottom Line

Bill Sexton's 49-point record-breaking game in 1954 remains unparalleled and is a testament to his enduring legacy at Saint John's University.