NEW ORLEANS – Former University of Dayton star guard Brian Roberts put himself in the record books Wednesday night as he became the 2013-14 NBA free throw "champion."  Roberts, in his second season with New Orleans, made 125 of 133 free throws this season for one of the best season-long percentages in NBA history, .940.

Only Ernie DeGregorio, Rick Barry, Calvin Murphy, Mark Price (twice), Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Jeff Hornacek and Jose Calderon have done better.

Even though the game had no bearing on the NBA playoff picture – New Orleans was already eliminated and their opponent, Houston, had already clinched the fourth seed in the West—the game had some drama.

Roberts needed three free throws made to even qualify for the free throw title, and it was not certain if he would play after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury. Then, if he did play he needed to be able to be aggressive enough to get to the line and make the three shots he needed to qualify.

The Pelicans' point guard could only go four minutes, but it was enough time for him to go three-for-four from the line, and reach the required 125 free throws made.

''It's crazy and something that I didn't set out to do at the beginning of this year,'' Roberts told the New Orleans Times- Picayune. ''As things unfolded, I got to the line more and kept making them. It got closer and closer and it was something on my mind. To have that is special and something that I will never forget. Obviously (it's) a big deal.''

Roberts has made 195 of 210 free throws in his first two seasons in The League for a .929 FT%.  According to the Pelican public relations notes, that is the best free throw percentage in NBA history for a player with a minimum of 150 free throws made.

Roberts' 1,962 career points at Dayton are fourth-best at UD, only behind Roosevelt Chapman's 2,233, Don May's 1,980 and Henry Finkel's 1,968.  He is the Flyer career record holder in three-pointers made (293) and 3-pt. FG% (44.1%).  He is one of just four UD players to be named an outright team MVP three times.  Jim Paxson, Chapman and Ryan Perryman are the other three

He is also fourth in career FT% (848%) for the Flyers behind Donald Smith (.886), Kevin Dillard (.861) and Damon Goodwin (.860).

The 2008 graduate of UD played overseas for four years before signing with New Orleans.  He was a part of three straight German League championship teams while playing for Brose Baskets of Bamberg, Germany.  He played his first professional season in Israel for Galil Gilboa.

Roberts was one of three Dayton basketball players on NBA rosters at the end of the season.  Chris Johnson plays for the Boston Celtics and Chris Wright is a Milwaukee Buck.