Most overtimes in college basketball game is seven occurring in matchups such as Black Hills vs Yankton, Cincinnati vs Bradley and Skidmore vs Vermont.
An average basketball game lasts for two hours. It can take between an hour and 40 minutes and two hours if fewer fouls and timeouts are used. Halftime during the regular season lasts only 15 minutes instead of 20 minutes during the game.
NBA overtime gives teams two more timeouts, whereas NCAA overtime gives them one extra timeout. Overtime is not affected by regulation timeouts. Also, team and individual fouls will continue into overtime.
During a game when the score is tied, the team is entitled to a five-minute overtime period according to the rules. Each team will get two timeouts per overtime period.
Still, if the scores are tied then another overtime period is provided to the teams.
1. Black Hills vs Yankton [1956]
Black Hills vs Yankton has the record for most overtimes in college basketball. The 1959 NCAA game ended after the seventh overtime.
A college basketball game between the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets and Yankton men’s basketball team took place on 18 February 1956 in which the Black Hills claimed their victory in the 7th overtime.
The Black Hills are a member of NCAA Division II and take part in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
Additionally, Black Hills and Yankton both played in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) in 1956.
2. Bradley vs Cincinnati [1981]
Bradley vs Cincinnati is considered one of the longest basketball game ever played. The clash between the two lasted seven overtimes on 21 December 1981.
The event took place at Robertson Memorial Field House in Peoria, Illinois with a crowd of 7300 attendees.
Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Bradley Braves with a scoreboard of 75-73 after 75 minutes inside the game. The 15-foot jump shot was the winning goal made by Doug Schloemer with the few seconds remaining in the game.
During the first half of the game, the scoreboard was 35-40 with Bradley having the lead. But in the second half, Cincinnati led the game with the score of 26-21.
After the end of regular time, the score was tied at 61 and both teams played into overtime.
Bradley Braves only managed to score 12 points in the total of five overtimes whereas Cincinnati Bearcats mustered 14 making them the conqueror.
Bradley Braves men's basketball has appeared in nine of the NCAA Tournaments with the last one in 2019. They have made their way into the National Invitation Tournament 21 times winning four of them.
The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team won two national championships in 1961 and 1962, made 33 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament appearances, and reached six Final Fours.
Moreover, the 1981 matchup between Bradley and Cincinnati is still recognized by the fans as the game with the most overtimes in college basketball history.
3. Skidmore vs Southern Vermont [2010]
Skidmore beats Southern Vermont in one of the longest game in NCAA basketball. The match occurred in 2010 and had seven overtimes.
It is one of the most prolonged matches in NCAA Division III men's basketball history. The Skidmore vs Southern Vermont game occurred on November 23, 2010, in Bennington, Vermont. The match ended with the scoreboard of 128-123.
Skidmore had led during the second half of the game by 13 points but Southern Vermont found a way to tie the with 59-59 points at the end of regulation.
In the thrilling match that lasted until the sixth overtime, Skidmore finally emerged as the champion with a score of 16-7 in the seventh overtime. John Mantas's last shot in the game with only 10 seconds remaining secured their win.
4. Minnesota vs Purdue [1955]
In 1955 the feud between Minnesota and Purdue held the most overtimes in NCAA basketball. The game was played till the sixth overtime.
Minnesota Golden Gophers swept the board scoring 59-56 against Purdue Boilermakers on 29 January 1955. The game was played at Williams Arena, Minnesota.
Golden Gophers, which later had to forfeit every game played during that season owing to NCAA violations.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team has made their name in nine Big Ten championships. They also have appeared in 14 of the NCAA tournament with a combined score of 15-13.
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball have made a total of 34 appearances in the NCAA. They were able to reach the Final Four in two of the games and one championship game but were unable to hold the NCAA Championship trophy.
5. Niagara vs Siena [1953]
Niagara vs Siena in 1953 is one of the lengthiest basketball game in the NCAA. The match was a marathon that lasted over 70 minutes.
On February 21, 1953, at the Albany Armory, the Niagara Purple Eagles defeated the Siena Saints with the final score of 88-81 after six overtimes.
Niagara Purple Eagles have been in three NCAA Tournaments in 1970, 2005 and the last time was in 2007 with a combined record of 2-4. They have won 10 Conference Championship.
Additionally, the Purple Eagles have also made their way into 14 of the National Invitation Tournaments with a combined score of 9-14.
Whereas Siena Saints has appeared in 6 NCAA Tournaments with a combined score of 4-6. And have been able to win 11 Conference Championship.
The Siena has appeared in five of the National Invitation Tournaments with the recent one being in 2003.
In the 2022-2023 season, Siena men's basketball lost to Purple Eagles with the final score of 71-65.
6. Kentucky vs Louisville [1983]
Kentucky and Louisville have been recorded for college basketball most overtimes. Louisville swept the victory with 80 points.
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team lost the game to Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team with the final scoreboard of 69-80 on March 26, 1983. The game settled on the sixth overtime.
The venue for the game was the University of Tennessee's Stokely Athletics Center with an attendance record of 12,489 people. The game was the part of NCAA Mideast Regional Finals.
During the first half of the game, the Wildcats had the lead with 37 points against the Cardinals.
And till the regular time ended their score was tied at 62 points each. Their victory was assured when Louisville Cardinals scored 14 more points during the overtime.
7. Connecticut vs Syracuse [2009]
Connecticut vs Syracuse is one of the longest basketball game in college. Syracuse Orange landed the victory in the sixth overtime in 2009.
It was a quarterfinal game of the 2009 Big East men's basketball tournament which was held on 12 March 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It had a crowd of 19,375 people.
Connecticut Huskies had the lead in the first half of the game with a score of 34-37 points whereas Syracuse Orange took the lead in the second half scoring 37-34. End of the regular time both teams were tied with a score of 71 points.
After the end of regular overtime, the score was a 10-10 draw which then to another overtime. There were a total of 6 overtimes but Syracuse Orange got the last one with the winning score of 17-7 points.
The rivalry has continued with the most recent game on September 10, 2022, at Ratt & Whitney Stadium where Syracuse claimed the match with 48-14 points.
Connecticut has always been a step ahead with its 5 NCAA men's basketball championships, in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, and 2023. While Syracuse has won only one in 2003.
