Blake Ahearn

Former Missouri State star Blake Ahearn (St. Louis, Mo., DeSmet High) is currently on a streak of 99 consecutive free throws made for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League. Ahearn now holds the top two marks for consecutive made free throws in D-League history, also making 79 straight charity shots during the 2007-08 season.

Ahearn is the NCAA Division I career leader in free throw accuracy, making 435 of 460 (.946) free throws for the Bears from 2003-07. He made 60 consecutive free throws twice at MSU, which is a school and Missouri Valley Conference record.

His current streak, which began on Dec. 21, and passed the NBA record of 97 set by Michael Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1993 and the European record of 94 set by Tau Ceramica Baskonia in Spain. The generally-recognized professional record is 138 straight free throws made by the legendary John Wooden of the independent Indianapolis Kautskys from 1934-36.

Ahearn will have an opportunity to extend his streak to 100 this Saturday night in Springfield, Mass., when the Bighorns take on the Springfield Armor.  Ahearn is averaging an NBA D-League-high 24.9 points per game (as of Jan. 22) with 2.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists through 19 games. He is shooting 96.6 percent from the free throw line for his career in the D-League.

In his pro career, he has played 15 NBA games with Miami (2007-08) and San Antonio (2008-09), scoring 78 points and making 32-of-33 (.970) free throws.