Syracuse, N.Y. – On Feb. 18, 1995, Lawrence Moten scored 20 points in a loss to Seton Hall.

But in that game, the Syracuse star broke the Big East’s all-time scoring record held by former Seton Hall player Terry Dehere.

Nearly a quarter-century later, Moten still holds the Big East record with 1,405 points.

However, he might not hold that claim for much longer.

Markus Howard, a junior guard at Marquette University, could pass Moten as the Big East’s career scoring leader next season.

Howard has scored 1,070 points in Big East play during his first three years at Marquette. That puts him just 335 points behind Moten.

“If he breaks the record,’’ Moten said in an interview on Monday, “I want to be there to give him the game ball.’’

Marquette guard Markus Howard is on pace to break Lawrence Moten's Big East scoring record next season. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)AP

Barring an injury or some other unforeseen circumstance, Howard should break Moten’s long-standing record.

Howard would have to average 18.6 points per game in the Golden Eagles’ 18 regular season conference games next season to get there. Last season, Howard led the Big East in scoring with 448 points (or 24.8 points per game).

Moten said he would not be upset if Howard broke his mark.

“It’s a good thing,’’ Moten said. “Some of these younger kids can find out who Lawrence Moten was. They’ll bring up my name. Someone will tell them about Poetry in Moten.’’

In 1993, Dehere surpassed Chris Mullin as the Big East’s all-time leading scorer. Two years later, Moten passed Dehere.

Since then a few players have challenged Moten’s mark. Boston College’s Troy Bell finished with 1,388 points (17 behind Moten) in 2003. In 2010, Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody was closing in on Moten before missing several games due to injury. Harangody would end up with 1,329 points.

In recent years, Moten’s record has seen few challengers. The top college players have left school early to enter the NBA draft.

When Moten was told how close Howard was to his record, his immediate reaction was, “He didn’t leave?’’

Not only did Howard decide to return to Marquette for his senior year, he didn’t even test the NBA draft waters this spring.

“The NBA is looking at younger players now,’’ Moten said. “They almost push you out and you have to test the NBA.’’

Shamorie Ponds might have joined Howard in the chase for Moten’s record except the St. John’s guard, who scored 999 points in three years at St. John’s, decided to enter this year’s NBA draft.

“I guess it is kind of surprising that it’s lasted this long, but at the same time, I thank the Lord for letting it last so long,’’ Moten said. “It shows people that it’s not easy to break records.’’

While Moten might soon relinquish the Big East record, he remains atop Syracuse’s all-time scoring list with 2,334 career points.

“I’ll still have the Syracuse record,’’ he said, “but I wish Tyus Battle had stayed.’’

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