1981 Bradley vs. Cincinnati men's basketball game
{{Short description|Longest men's basketball game in NCAA Division I history}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAABasketballSingleGame
|name=Longest NCAA Division I men's basketball game in history
|type=rsg
|image=
|date=Monday, December 21, 1981
|year=1981-82
|visitor_school=University of Cincinnati
|visitor_name_short=Cincinnati
|visitor_nickname=Bearcats
|visitor_record=6–1
|visitor_coach=Ed Badger
|visitor_per1=35
|visitor_per2=26
|visitor_OT1=2
|visitor_OT2=2
|visitor_OT3=0
|visitor_OT4=2
|visitor_OT5=4
|visitor_OT6=2
|visitor_OT7=2
|home_school=Bradley University
|home_name_short=Bradley
|home_nickname=Braves
|home_record=5–2
|home_coach=Dick Versace
|home_per1=40
|home_per2=21
|home_OT1=2
|home_OT2=2
|home_OT3=0
|home_OT4=2
|home_OT5=4
|home_OT6=2
|home_OT7=0
|arena=Robertson Memorial Field House
|city=Peoria, Illinois
|attendance=7,300{{cite web |url= https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-03-31/longest-college-basketball-game-di-mens-history|title= The longest college basketball game ever: What we know|last=Welper |first=Brenden |date=April 4, 2021 |website=NCAA.com |publisher=NCAA |access-date=February 12, 2022 |quote="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.}}
}}
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.{{cite web| last =Eisenberg| first =Jeff| title =No. 8 in The Untouchables: Cincinnati and Bradley work overtime| work =Yahoo Sports| publisher =Yahoo!| date =June 6, 2012| url =https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/no-8-untouchables-cincinnati-bradley-overtime-130036961.html| accessdate = May 6, 2014}} 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.
At the end of regulation, which was two 20-minute halves, the score was tied at 61 apiece.{{cite news | last =Associated Press | author-link =Associated Press | title =Cincy Edged Bradley: Bearcats Win in 7 Overtimes| newspaper =The Blade| location =Toledo, Ohio| pages =24| date =December 22, 1981| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Va0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6725%2C5851430| accessdate =May 6, 2014}} 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. In the 35 additional minutes of playing time, Cincinnati only scored 14 more points while Bradley only mustered 12.{{cite news| last =United Press International| author-link =United Press International| title =Overtime! Cincinnati Finally Wins Longest College Game in History| newspaper =TimesDaily| location =Florence, Alabama| pages =20| date =December 22, 1981| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ImEeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eMgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4344%2C5245644| accessdate = May 6, 2014}} The shot clock had not yet been introduced in NCAA basketball. Nine players recorded 60 or more minutes of playing time. 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.{{cite web| title =Cincinnati 75, at Bradley 73 – 7 OT – 12/21/81| work =Bradley-Cincinnati CBI Game Notes| publisher =Bradley University| date =March 17, 2008| url =http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=1413982| accessdate = May 6, 2014}}
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.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Bradley Braves men's basketball navbox}}
{{Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball navbox}}
Category:1981–82 Metro Conference men's basketball season
Category:1981–82 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season
Category:College basketball games in the United States
Category:Bradley Braves men's basketball
Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball