Most assists in a March Madness game: Full list of NCAA Tournament single-game passing records all time

The record for assists in an NCAA tournament game is a fresh one, set recently in 2023. It had previously stood at 18 assists for 36 years before being broken. 

While scoring often takes center stage, the role of the facilitator, or the player who orchestrates the offense and sets up teammates for success, is equally crucial. 

Here's who holds the new record for assists in a tournament game, along with the other top performers from the history of the tournament. 

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Most assists in a March Madness game

Kansas State point guard Markquis Nowell set the record for assists in a game, logging an impressive 19 assists in the Sweet Sixteen in 2023. He needed every single one of them, helping K-State defeat Michigan State in a 98-93 overtime win.

Nowell, an undersized 5-7 point guard, helped the Wildcats advance to the Elite Eight before falling to a Cinderella run by Florida Atlantic. He put up 30 points and another 12 assists in that loss. 

Nowell went undrafted but signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors after finishing his college career. 

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Here are the 10 highest assists in a game in March Madness history:

Nowell also holds the record for most assists per game during a tournament run, averaging an astounding 13.5 assists in 2023. UNLV's Mark Wade is right behind him at 12.2 per game, and longtime NBA player and coach Earl Watson comes in at third place with 11.0 per game for UCLA back in 2000. 

Jeremy Fears Jr. is the most recent player to crack the top-10. He dished out his 15 dimes in the Round of 32 against Louisville as the Spartans advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under Tom Izzo. 

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