Revisiting the greatest statistical season in men’s basketball history

Myron Walker’s final season as a Colonial was, quite possibly, the best a Colonial has ever had. Photo Credit: RMU Athletics

Tyler Gallo

Myron Walker stands today as one of the best basketball players to ever come through Moon Township since the basketball program’s inaugural season in the NCAA in 1976. In his hallowed four seasons as a Colonial, Walker dominated opposing teams, scored more points than any other player has and had his no. 10 honored forever overlooking the Events Center court as one of three members of the RMU Basketball Ring of Honor, joining Chipper Harris and Sugeiry Monsac.

Averaging 18.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks per game in his first three seasons, Walker saved his absolute best for last during his senior year at RMU.

The peripherals show exactly that: he set career-highs in PPG (20.1), RPG (6.7), three-pointers made (45), assists (56) and steals (43) while tying career-highs in three-point percentage (42.5) and rebounds (187). While his 48-percent field goal percentage was the lowest of his career, it came with shooting more frequently, attempting a career-high 15.3 field goals per game and 3.8 three-point attempts as well.

For a season like this to occur, there have to be key moments that make it stand out above the rest. Below are some of the standout performances from this season that led it to be the best in Colonials history.

OPENING THE SEASON WITH A BANG: NOVEMBER 27, 1993 @ DUQUESNE

A big local opponent was scheduled for the season opener for the Colonials in 1993-94 as Duquesne did battle with Robert Morris at the A.J. Palumbo Center. Despite a 91-70 loss, Myron Walker showed out to begin his senior season– dropping 31 points, one below his career-high up to that point. It was the first of many scintillating performances that season for Walker.

CAREER-HIGH NIGHT: DECEMBER 4, 1993 @ UMBC

Walker’s career-high performance of 35 points came at the expense of the UMBC Retrievers in December of 1993. Recording 14 field goals, good for top-ten all-time, Walker and the Colonials stole a close win at the RAC Center that night, escaping with a 78-76 victory.

WINTER WONDERLAND: 16 STRAIGHT GAMES OF DOUBLE DIGITS, 12/4/93-1/27/94

Starting in the UMBC game and ending against Rider on January 27, Walker scored 10 or more points in 16 consecutive games, the second-longest such streak of his career. He had a streak of 26 that spanned during the end of his sophomore season and the beginning of his junior season. After their non-conference play ended, this streak helped the Colonials to an 8-2 record to start the conference season, including a seven-game win streak in between, and a Walker buzzer-beater with 0.3 seconds left on January 15 sealed their fourth straight. During this streak, he averaged 19.8 points per game.

A REVELATION AT RUPP: DECEMBER 30, 1993 @ KENTUCKY

The Colonials closed their non-conference slate with a tough opponent, traveling to Kentucky. While the rest of the Colonials struggled in a 92-67 loss, the trio of Walker, Gabe Jackson and Bubba Donnelly combined for 59 of 67 points including 22 from Walker, furthering his solid start to the season and burnishing his credentials against a top opponent in college basketball.

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: FEBRUARY 3, 1994 @ FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

In a wild 88-82 double-overtime loss, Myron Walker had perhaps the best game of his career. Becoming one of a few Colonials to score 20 points in a half, Walker did just that, scoring 20 on the nose and dropping a total of 32 points as the Colonials and Knights battled hard, but in the end, FDU came out on top.

For that season, he was named to the All-NEC First Team, losing out on his second NEC Player of the Year to Izett Buchanan of Marist.

Every great season has its moments, and for Myron Walker, they were layered throughout his entire senior season. To date, he is the only Colonial to average 20 points in a single season* and the all-time leading scorer in Colonials history, scoring 1,965 points in his four years in Moon, good for seventh all-time in the NEC, and while his sophomore season of 614 ranks first in Colonials history, his 563 in his senior season are close behind. His 604 rebounds rank seventh in RMU history.

Next time you’re at the Events Center and see his no. 10 in the rafters, think back and remember just how good he was as a Colonial.

*excluding AJ Bramah, who transferred before season’s end and was averaging a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds