Purdue guard Braden Smith added a historic milestone to the opening round of the NCAA tournament Friday night, becoming the NCAA’s all-time leader in career assists.
Smith broke the long-standing record previously held by Bobby Hurley, reaching 1,077 assists for his career during Purdue’s first-round matchup with Queens University.
A record set on college basketball’s biggest stage
The achievement came in the NCAA tournament, where every possession is magnified and individual milestones often intersect with team goals. Smith’s new total moved him past Hurley atop the NCAA career assists list, placing the Purdue guard alone at No. 1 in the sport’s history in that category.
Smith’s record-setting moment capped a night that underscored his role as Purdue’s primary playmaker, with his passing and decision-making central to the Boilermakers’ offense.