1981 Bradley vs. Cincinnati men's basketball game

Longest NCAA Division I men's basketball game in history
Regular season game
Cincinnati Bearcats Bradley Braves
(6–1) (5–2)
75 73
Head coach:
Ed Badger		 Head coach:
Dick Versace
1st half2nd halfOT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OT7OT Total
Cincinnati Bearcats 35262202422 75
Bradley Braves 40212202420 73
DateMonday, December 21, 1981
VenueRobertson Memorial Field House, Peoria, Illinois
Attendance7,300[1]

The 1981 Bradley vs. Cincinnati men's basketball game is the longest NCAA Division I men's basketball game ever played and tied for the most overtime periods, regardless of NCAA classification, with seven.[2] The University of Cincinnati visited Bradley University on December 21, 1981, and defeated them 75–73 after 75 minutes of game time. Little-used bench player Doug Schloemer scored on a 15-foot jump shot with one second remaining to propel the Bearcats to victory.[2]

At the end of regulation, which was two 20-minute halves, the score was tied at 61 apiece.[3] Both teams played keep-away throughout each overtime period; only once, during the fifth overtime, did a team take more than a two-point lead.[3] In the 35 additional minutes of playing time, Cincinnati only scored 14 more points while Bradley only mustered 12.[4] The shot clock had not yet been introduced in NCAA basketball. Nine players recorded 60 or more minutes of playing time.[2] Two players—Bradley's center Donald Reese and Cincinnati's guard Bobby Austin—each played 73 minutes, jointly setting the NCAA all-time single game minutes played record.[2][5]

Three other times has an NCAA Division I men's basketball game reached six overtime periods: Niagara defeated Siena 88–81 in 1953, Minnesota defeated Purdue 59–56 in 1955, and most recently Syracuse defeated Connecticut 127–117 in 2009.[2]

  1. ^ Welper, Brenden (April 4, 2021). "The longest college basketball game ever: What we know". NCAA.com. NCAA. Retrieved February 12, 2022. "If anybody left, it was probably because they had to get their kids to bed or something like that — being a school night," Snell said of the reported 7,300 in attendance.
  2. ^ a b c d e Eisenberg, Jeff (June 6, 2012). "No. 8 in The Untouchables: Cincinnati and Bradley work overtime". Yahoo Sports. Yahoo!. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Associated Press (December 22, 1981). "Cincy Edged Bradley: Bearcats Win in 7 Overtimes". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. p. 24. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  4. ^ United Press International (December 22, 1981). "Overtime! Cincinnati Finally Wins Longest College Game in History". TimesDaily. Florence, Alabama. p. 20. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "Cincinnati 75, at Bradley 73 – 7 OT – 12/21/81". Bradley-Cincinnati CBI Game Notes. Bradley University. March 17, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2014.