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When the NCAA introduced the 3-point line on April 2, 1986, it ignited a revolution in college basketball that still fuels our greatest March Madness moments. Picture it: a buzzer-beater that echoes through a packed arena, a stunning upset, or a player draining threes like it’s shooting practice, all made possible by this transformative rule. Yet, not everyone was on board with this game-changer—coaches like Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Knight decried what they saw as a risk to the purest aspects of the sport. Fast forward to today, and the long-range game is an integral part of the strategy and spectacle. Are you ready to dive deep with me into the college basketball history books? We’re shining a spotlight on those who’ve lit it up in the NCAA Tournament, setting records for the most 3-pointers in a single game.

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There have been countless buzzer beaters, upsets and unforgettable performances that wouldn’t have been possible without the implementation of the 3-point line. We’re taking a moment to honor those with the most 3-pointers made in an NCAA Tournament game.

College basketball changed forever on April 2, 1986.

Thatâs when the NCAA officially adopted a 3-point line at 19 feet, 9 inches. And Stephen Curry is forever grateful.

However, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Indianaâs Bobby Knight were among those who were vocally opposed to the monumental change. But they certainly werenât alone as teams attempted just 9.2 3s per game during the shotâs first full season in NCAA Division I men’s college hoops.

How much has the game changed since then? In the 2022-23 season, the Big West Conference averaged the fewest 3-point attempts in the nation â with each team averaging 18.3 per game.

Over the years, there have been countless buzzer beaters, upsets, comebacks and epic performances in the menâs basketball tournament that wouldnât have been possible without the 3-point arc. Weâre taking a look at the players who have knocked the most in a single game during March Madness.

But be sure to take note of the dates in the rankings below. After the 2007-08 season, the NCAA voted to move the 3-point field goal line back one foot to 20-9. It was moved back again ahead of the 2019-20 season, this time more than a foot.

It didnât make a difference for some of these guys.

Most 3-Pointers by a Player in Tournament History

1. 11, Jeff Fryer, Loyola Marymount vs. Michigan (March 18, 1990)

This is not the only time you will see a record set from Loyola Marymountâs 149-115 win over Michigan. Head coach Paul Westheadâs âSystemâ took college basketball by storm and led Loyola Marymount to the best era of menâs basketball in school history. Fryer hit 11 of 15 3-pointers (73.3%), scoring a game-high 41 points. In four tournament games against New Mexico State, Michigan, Alabama and UNLV, Fryer hit 23 3-pointers on 43.3% shooting.

T-2. 10, Mark Sears, Alabama vs. BYU (March 27, 2025)

They say big players come up big when it matters most. That was the case in the Sweet 16 when Sears hit 10 of 16 from beyond the arc on the way to 34 points in No. 2 Alabama’s 113-88 win over sixth-seeded BYU. What was remarkable about this performance is that the senior had gone just 5 for 35 (14.3%) from 3-point range over his previous six games. But Sears wasn’t just chucking up shots against the Cougars. He also finished with eight assists and three steals.

T-2. 10, Jack Gohlke, Oakland vs. Kentucky (March 21, 2024)

Gohlke didn’t bother messing around with 2-point field goal attempts in the 14th-seeded Golden Grizzlies’ first-round matchup with heavily favored third-seeded Kentucky in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. All 20 of his shots in the contest were from 3-point range, including some with an extremely high degree of difficulty. He knocked down 10 of them, finishing with a career-high 32 points (he hit two free throws) in Oakland’s 80-76 upset win.

T-2. 10, Carsen Edwards, Purdue vs. Virginia (March 30, 2019)

Edwards played like a man possessed for the Boilermakers during the 2019 tournament. He finished with 42 points with nine 3s in a second-round matchup against Villanova, 29 points in a Sweet 16 win over Tennessee and another 42 points with 10 3s in a loss to Virginia in the Elite Eight. In four tournament games, the 6-1 guard made 45.9% from long range and 80.6% on free throws. His 34.8-point scoring average is tied for ninth-most points per game over an entire tournament.

T-2. 10, Roburt Sallie, Memphis vs. Cal St. Northridge (March 19, 2009)

There was no questioning whether Sallie could shoot. After all, he wrapped up his college career with a 43.8 3-point percentage over 70 games. But he had never hit more than four in a game until the Tigersâ first-round contest in 2009. He came off the bench and made 10 of his 15 attempts on the way to 35 points in an 81-70 win. It remains the record for the most 3s by a player off the bench.

T-2. 10, Freddie Banks, UNLV vs. Indiana (March 28, 1987)

In his previous three games, Banks had shot a combined 9 for 33 (27.3%) from beyond the arc. But in one historic Final Four performance against the Hoosiers, Banks drilled 10 of his 19 attempts on the way to a game-high 38 points. Teammates Armon Gilliam finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds and Mark Wade dished out a then tournament-record 18 assists. But remarkably, it wasnât enough as Steve Alford scored 33 points to lead Indiana to a 97-93 victory. The Hoosiers went on to win the national championship.

The Best of the Rest

T-7. 9, Garde Thompson, Michigan vs. Navy (March 12, 1987)
T-7. 9, Johnny Miller, Temple vs. Cincinnati (March 16, 1995)
T-7. 9, Johnny Hemsley, Miami (FL) vs. Lafayette (March 12, 1999)
T-7. 9, Ricky Paulding, Missouri vs. Marquette, OT (March 22, 2003)
T-7. 9, Gerry McNamara, Syracuse vs. BYU (March 18, 2004)
T-7. 9, Brady Heslip, Baylor vs. Colorado (March 17, 2012)
T-7. 9, Bryce Alford, UCLA vs. SMU (March 19, 2015)
T-7. 9, Carsen Edwards, Purdue vs. Villanova (March 23, 2019)

Most 3s in a Tournament Game Without a Miss

1. 8, John Goldsberry, UNCW vs. Maryland (March 21, 2003)

Goldsberry brought his shooting stroke into the NCAA Tournament in both his appearances with North Carolina-Wilmington in 2003 and 2006. He totaled 40 points while going a combined 12 for 14 from long range in losses to Maryland and George Washington. His 26-point effort on 8-of-8 shooting from 3 nearly helped the Seahawks upset the sixth-seeded Terrapins (75-73) in the opening round of the 2003 tourney.

Most 3-Pointers by a Team in a Tournament Game

1. 25, Alabama vs. BYU (March 27, 2025)

Mark Sears wasn’t alone when he hit 10 of 16 from beyond the arc in No. 2 Alabama’s 113-88 win over sixth-seeded BYU in the 2025 Sweet 16. Chris Youngblood also went 5 for 11 from beyond the arc and Aden Holloway was 6 for 13 as the Crimson Tide set an NCAA Tournament record by going 25 for 51 (49.0%) from 3.

2. 21, Loyola Marymount vs. Michigan (March 18, 1990)

The Lions connected on 21 3-pointers against Michigan. Yes, Fryer contributed 11 of those, but Per Stumer hit five 3s, Terrell Lowery made three, and Bo Kimble and Marcellus Lee each added a 3 of their own. As a team, LMU shot 52.5% from behind the arc in a 149-115 victory.