May 4, 2020 –
The fourth installment of the Memorable Moments series.
This can be called a two-part Memorable Moments for University of Pennsylvania forward AJ Brodeur. As the season wound down and the chances for the team to go to the Ivy League Tournament in peril, Brodeur helped the team to get needed victories and in the process, he rewrote the Penn record book.
On February 15th the Quakers defeated the Yale Bulldogs, who shared first place in the league going into the game. Brodeur drained a three-pointer with 2:49 to play to put the Red and Blue in front. Penn went on to win that game. The field goal that gave his team the lead was the 705th in Brodeur’s career. And it broke a 67-year record held by Penn great Ernie Beck who had 704 field goals.
This was more than breaking a program record. It was a great accomplishment for Brodeur who came to Penn, a school and a team that would allow him to develop his game to the fullest, he said. It also allowed us to remember an all-time Quaker stalwart in Beck, who would now be more fully appreciated.
March 7th became a game of historic magnitude. Brodeur became the all-time leader in points to move ahead of Beck, who held the top spot for 67 years. That was the longest standing scoring record of any Division I program in the nation. Beck finished his remarkable three-year varsity career with 1,827 points.
The senior from Northborough, MA recorded a triple-double against Columbia, the first in program history with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Quakers beat the Lions and clinched a berth in the Ivy League Tournament.
Brodeur finished the season as the team leader in points, rebounds, assists, and blocked shots this season. He scored 1,832 career points and 928 rebounds over his four years. The season ended that night. The team did not know that at the time. The league would later cancel its postseason tournament due to the Corona virus. Big Five Hall of Famer Jack Scheuer said he would not get more.
We can look back on that night as one when we can witness the present and honor the past in Brodeur and Beck, two greats of Penn basketball lore.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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