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Sometime Wednesday, likely early in the 7 p.m. game with Peru State, Mitch Albers will score his fifth point and move into second place on UNO's all-time scoring list.

Only Dean Thompson will be left.

Albers, a senior from Papillion-La Vista, is on target to pass Dennis Forrest, who scored 1,660 points for the Mavericks from 1973 through 1977 before Thompson broke that mark while getting to 1,816 in a career that wrapped up in 1984.

And while Thompson's name still stands prominently when former Mavs stars are recalled, Forrest's is one that is sometimes overlooked.

A burly, 6-foot-4 guard who checked in at 220 pounds or more, Forrest followed his brother Calvin to UNO from Omaha Central. Calvin (1970-74) is eighth all-time with 1,351 points.

Even now, Dennis Forrest would have a size advantage over similar players, but 35 years ago, the difference was even more striking.

"He was a great player," said Glenn Moberg, a former UNO teammate. "He was strong as an ox. He could just back guys in and play with his back to the basket. It was tough for guys to guard him, especially in Division II, because of his size."

Forrest scored 1,222 points in his final two seasons, including a school-record 722 as a senior, when he averaged 24.9 points per game. He was picked in the seventh of eight rounds in the 1977 NBA draft — No. 149 overall — by the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Philadelphia wouldn't ever sign him because he had a bad knee," said Bob Hanson, UNO's coach from 1969 through 1994. "He'd always had it, and it never really bothered him — sometimes he wore a brace. He always played with a limp. He was just an unbelievable competitor."

UNO went 67-45 during Forrest's career, making the NCAA Division II tournament each of his last three seasons.

"He was at a (scoring) disadvantage because he played before the 3-point shot," Hanson said. "He could post you up and he was a really good rebounder. He was stronger than just about anybody he played. He had good skills and he could handle (the ball). He was a good free-throw shooter, too."

Moberg said Forrest's gimpy knee never seemed to slow him once it was time to play. Neither did another shortcoming.

"He was blind as a bat, but he could put them in all day long," Moberg said. "I still remember one time it was a real close game, and he was getting ready to shoot a free throw and he said, 'Mo, how much time is on the clock?' He couldn't see the clock, but he could put it in the basket."

Albers, 6-4 and 195 pounds, has been putting it in the basket for four seasons in five years with an offensive arsenal that includes 3-point shooting, solid mid-range work and any number of moves off dribble penetration. He's also an 80.8 percent free-throw shooter for his career.

With 1,656 points, Albers needs to average 23.0 in UNO's final seven games to pass Thompson for the all-time lead. He's averaging 18.1 for the season.

With three NAIA opponents on the schedule this week — including 1-22 Peru State on Wednesday and a road game at 15-7 Avila (Mo.) on Thursday — Albers, in theory, could make up ground with a big push and a little focus on the record against potentially outmanned opponents.

That won't be how the Mavericks approach it, though.

"If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn't, it doesn't," UNO coach Derrin Hansen said of Albers breaking the record. "If we do that (intentionally pursue the record), then we're cheating the game and cheating other people's progress."

That's on par with the philosophy of Albers, who has never been one to focus on getting his points. In fact, this season is the only one in which Albers will finish as UNO's season scoring leader.

"Whether Mitch gets the record or not, his legacy and impact on this program will not change," Hansen said.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

twitter.com/RWhiteOWH

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