Alex M. Rivera Athletics Hall of Fame
On Feb. 20, 1943, Rudolph “Rocky” Roberson broke the men’s basketball national scoring record with 58 points, leading North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) to a 92-43 victory over Shaw University.
Sportscaster Bill Stern’s coast-to-coast report of Roberson’s feat marked the first national recognition for a player from a Historically Black College or University.
In his record-setting performance, Roberson made 25 field goals and eight free throws to become only the second college basketball player to reach the 50-point milestone.
Roberson won NCC football letters three years, basketball letters four years, as well as a letter as a member of NCC's first track team (javelin, best mark 181'10") and one baseball letter.
