Malik Story will go down in Nevada Wolf Pack history as one of the greatest scorers in the first 100 years of the program.
Although he played just three seasons with the Wolf Pack, Story owns the school record for career 3-pointers at 253 and leaves the school as the ninth best scorer with 1,476 points.
More than half his shot attempts (655-of-1,209) and successful shots (253-of-497) came from outside the 3-point circle. He ended up with more 3-pointers (253) than free throws (229) as a Pack player.
The more he shot, the better he was. He had 10 or more 3-point attempts in 18 games during his Pack career and he shot .431 from 3-point range in those games. In his other 80 games he shot .367 from long distance.
Like all players, there were things he didn't do, such as rebounding on the offensive end (just 33 in his career), blocking shots (15) or getting to the free throw line all that often (just 3.2 attempts a game) but Story had a clear-cut role on the Pack for three seasons and he fulfilled it. He made at least one 3-pointer in 92 of the 98 games he played in.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound shooting guard scored in double digits in 75 of his 98 games, he shot the three with confidence and courage (6.7 a game) and wasn't selfish about it (212 career assists).
His absence leaves the biggest hole on the roster as the Wolf Pack looks to 2013-14.
A quick look at the Top 10 games (in no particular order) of Malik Story's Wolf Pack career . . .
- 34 points in 34 minutes against in a 90-80 victory over Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference tournament on March 9, 2011. This was Story's finest hour. He made all six 3-pointers that he tossed up and 11-of-14 shots overall. His .786 shooting percentage that day was the highest of his career when he took more than 10 shots. His 6-for-6 performance on threes was the most he ever made in a game without a miss.
- Career-high 35 points in 85-75 win over Yale on Dec. 28, 2012. Story destroyed the Bulldogs, making 4-of-10 threes and 8-of-11 inside the arc. He also was 7-of-10 from the free throw line. It was just one of three times that he had 10 or more free throw attempts in a game and he averaged 31 points in those three games. He also had four rebounds, for assists and four steals against Yale. The Wolf Pack went 3-15 after that game this year.
- Career-high seven 3-pointers in 80-78 victory over Longwood on Nov. 22, 2011. Yes, it was just Longwood. But the Wolf Pack needed all seven of Story's threes to avoid an embarrassing loss on their own floor. Story was 7-of-10 from 3-point range and he also had 28 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 33 minutes.
- Near-perfect night against Pacific on Nov. 17, 2011. This game took place just five days before the Longwood game. Against Pacific, Story had arguably his most efficient night of his Pack career. Playing just 22 minutes he was 6-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-3 on 3-pointers for 18 points. It was the only game of his Pack career that he attempted more than one 3-pointer and made them all except for the game against Fresno in the WAC tournament his sophomore year. He was also 3-of-3 from the free throw line with two steals, a block and two assists in the 78-54 win. This game and the one against Fresno were the only games of his Pack career that he made at least 70 percent of his shots.
- 29 points in 84-76 overtime win against San Jose State on Feb. 12, 2011. In a game the Wolf Pack had to win, Story put all of his skills on display. He was 11-of-21 from the floor and 3-of-8 on threes in 43 minutes as the Pack won on the road He was also 4-of-5 from the line and chipped in with four rebounds, six assists and two steals.
- 33 points in 39 minutes in 88-75 loss to San Diego State on Feb. 13, 2013. Winning at San Diego state is something few visiting teams have done in recent years. But because of Story the Wolf Pack put a scare into the Aztecs. Story was 12-of-22 from the floor and tied his career high with seven 3-pointers (13 attempts).
- 31 points in 73-69 loss to Colorado State on Feb. 6, 2013. Story played 40 minutes for the only time in his career that he never left the floor. He was very efficient, making 11-of-17 shots from the floor including 7-of-11 3-pointers. He also had three rebounds and two assists as he scored 30 or more points for the second and final time of his career in front of Wolf Pack fans at Lawlor Events Center.
- 25 points, six 3-pointers in 75-62 loss to New Mexico on March 6, 2013. Story saved one of his best games for his Lawlor farewell. Story said good-bye to Wolf Pack fans with a brilliant performance, hitting 6-pointers in 11 tries and scoring 25 points against a Top 25 team in the final game of his career at home on Senior Night. He played 34 minutes, slapped hands with a fan along the sideline after making one key 3-pointer, and pulled down four rebounds.
- 23 points, six 3-pointers in 76-70 win at San Jose State on Feb. 11, 2012. There was just something (the Spartans defense?) about playing in San Jose that brought out the best in Story. With dreams of winning the WAC in their final year in the conference, the Pack had to win at San Jose State in February 2012. Story came up big, draining six 3-pointers in 11 attempts and scoring 23 points in 34 minutes. He played two games at San Jose State in his career and averaged 26 points.
- 20 points in final Pack game. Again, Story saved one of his best games for his Wolf Pack farewell. The senior scored 20 points in his final Pack game, an 85-81 loss to Wyoming in the Mountain West tournament on Tuesday, He was 5-of-12 on 3-pointers and also had four rebounds, three assists and three steals. It was the 22nd 20-point game of his career.
