Illinois Athletics mourns the loss of Fighting Illini Basketball all-time great Dave Downey, who passed away Saturday at the age of 84.
A native of Canton, Illinois, Downey was a three-time team MVP for the Illini from the 1961 through 1963 seasons, leading the team in scoring and rebounding all three years. As a senior in 1963, he was a first-team All-America selection by the Helms Foundation and first-team All-Big Ten pick, helping lead Illinois to the Big Ten Championship and NCAA Mideast Regional Final appearance.
Downey famously set the Illini single-game scoring record with 53 points at Indiana on Feb. 16, 1963, a record that still stands 62 years later. The courtside club at State Farm Center is named Club 53 in recognition of his historic performance. Downey also excelled in the classroom, selected in 1963 as Illinois' recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor.
Downey finished his career as Illinois' all-time leading scorer (1,360 points, now 25th) and rebounder (790 rebounds, now 10th). His career scoring average of 18.9 ppg ranks fifth in UI history, while his rebounding average of 11.0 rpg ranks third.
Downey was selected to the Illinois Basketball All-Century Team, is a member of the Illinois Basketball Honored Jerseys program, and he was enshrined into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. During a long and distinguished professional business career, Downey was active in Champaign-Urbana community organizations and served on numerous leadership boards, including the UI Board of Trustees.
