The year is 1992, the month is March. LSU has drawn BYU in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Tigers arrive in Boise, Idaho, with their 7-foot-1, 295-pound superstar — center Shaquille O’Neal.
By this point, Shaq was already a household name in college basketball. A two-time All-American, SEC Player of the Year and a force of nature in the paint, he was the kind of player everyone stopped to watch. But, on March 19, he delivered something that even those who didn’t see the game would remember: a triple-double — 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 blocks.
Triple-doubles in March Madness play were and still are uncommon — especially for a center. O’Neal’s performance was a showcase of dominance and a preview of the legend he would soon become.
As we go inside the NCAA Video Vault, we revisit one of the greatest single-game performances in tournament history — the night Shaq took his game to an entirely different level.
Below you can watch the full game, from the March Madness YouTube channel.
The game: LSU vs. BYU
LSU entered the 1992 NCAA tournament as a 7-seed, leaning heavily on O’Neal, and the broadcast made that clear from the start. “Kevin Nixon’s 54-footer against UTEP gave BYU the right to meet LSU here tonight,” CBS’ Sean McDonough told the audience, “and with that responsibility comes facing Shaquille O’Neal — perhaps the best player in college basketball, certainly one of the most popular.”
The tone was set before the opening tip. Early in the first half, LSU wastes no time feeding its star. With an entry pass into the post, Shaq throws down the first points of the game. This was the kind of opening statement that BYU would have to deal with all night.
Shaq makes his presence felt on defense early, swatting away BYU’s shot attempt at the rim.
He blocks another BYU shot, immediately secures the rebound, and outlets the ball to start a fast break.
O’Neal goes up for a shot inside but can’t get it to fall. He muscles down the rebound, gets the ball back up and sinks the basket while drawing the foul.
Once again, Shaq swats the ball away from BYU and teammate Clarence Ceasar is able to corral the loose ball, turning what could’ve been just a defensive stop into an instant transition.
Pulling down the rebound, O’Neal quickly finds his balance and spins back to the rim for two points.
Moments after Shaq tied the NCAA tournament single-game block record (10), previously set by BYU’s Shawn Bradley in 1991, the Cougars make one last desperate drive to the rim. O’Neal meets Kevin Nixon’s floater head-on, swatting away his 11th shot of the night to set a new NCAA tournament single-game record.
This game marked O’Neal’s sixth career triple-double at LSU, but his only one in NCAA tournament play. The Tigers beat BYU, 94-83, to advance to the second round where they lost to No. 5 seed Indiana.
The rarity of a triple-double in March Madness
For those unfamiliar with the term, a triple-double is when a player records double-digit single-game totals in three different statistical categories in a single game. It wasn’t until the 1985-86 season, when the NCAA finally began tracking blocks and steals, that triple-doubles could even be recognized in college basketball.
Unlike the NBA, where pace and longer games create more chances, college basketball’s shorter 40-minute format makes it more difficult for triple-doubles to be achieved. Most of the ones that did happen in the late 1980s and early 1990s came from guards piling up assists or steals paired with rebounds and points. To see a center accomplish the feat, and do it with blocks, was extraordinary.
Here’s a look at the complete list of NCAA tournament triple-doubles through 2025. Shaq was only the second player to accomplish the feat, at the time of his 1992 triple-double.
| Player | School | Opponent | date | stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Grant | Michigan | vs. UNC | March 14, 1987 | 24 pts., 10 rebs., 10 asts. |
| Shaquille O’Neal | LSU | vs. BYU | March 19, 1992 | 26 pts., 13 rebs., 11 blks. |
| David Cain | St. John’s (NY) | vs. Texas Tech | March 18, 1993 | 12 pts., 11 rebs., and 11 asts. |
| Andre Miller | Utah | vs. Arizona | March 21, 1998 | 18 pts., 14 rebs., 13 asts. |
| Dwyane Wade | Marquette | vs. Kentucky | March 29, 2003 | 29 pts., 11 rebs, 11 asts. |
| Cole Aldrich | Kansas | vs. Dayton | March 22, 2009 | 13 pts., 20 rebs., 10 blks. |
| Draymond Green | Michigan State | vs. UCLA | March 17, 2011 | 23 pts., 11 rebs., 10 asts. |
| Draymond Green | Michigan State | vs. LIU | March 16, 2012 | 24 pts., 12 rebs., 10 asts. |
| Ja Morant | Murray State | vs. Marquette | March 21, 2019 | 17 pts., 11 rebs., 16 asts. |
| Marcus Domask | Illinois | vs. Morehead State | March 21, 2024 | 12 pts., 11 rebs., 10 asts. |
Breaking down a historic stat line
O’Neal’s triple-double wasn’t just a stat line — it was historically significant:
- He is only one of two players in March Madness men’s history to record a triple-double with 10 or more blocks.
- He still holds the record for most blocks in a single NCAA tournament game, with 11.
Of course, this game was only a piece of O’Neal’s larger legacy in Baton Rouge. From SEC Player of the Year, to National Player of the Year, his three seasons with LSU proved he was one of the most impactful players in NCAA men’s basketball history.
To dive deeper into his complete college career and awards, check out Shaq’s complete NCAA tournament career highlights below.
Shaquille O’Neal’s career March Madness highlights at LSU (1990-1992)
Legacy sealed in March Madness history
More than three decades later, his 26 points, 13 rebounds, and record-setting 11 blocks is still remembered as a defining moment in NCAA tournament history. O’Neal’s Hall of Fame career in the NBA would showcase his continued dominance, but his triple-double against BYU is a reminder of where it all began.
For more on O’Neal’s biggest March Madness moments, revisit his top NCAA tournament highlights.
