Instant Classic To Be Replayed Today
3/13/2009 11:35:20 AM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - ESPNU will replay Syracuse's historic six-overtime win from Thursday night against Connecticut in the quarterfinal of the BIG EAST Tournament as an Instant Classic today at 3 p.m., ET. ESPN Classic will also replay the game at 11:30 a.m.
The two teams played the longest college basketball game of the shot-clock era and the second-longest on record. Cincinnati and Bradley played a seven-overtime tilt in 1981 and there have been two other six-overtime outings on record -- Minnesota 59, Purdue 56 in 1955 and Niagara 88, Siena 81 in 1953.
The elapsed time of the game was three hours, 46 minutes. The game began at 9:36 p.m., March 12 and ended at 1:22 a.m., March 13.
It is the longest game in BIG EAST Championship history and the fifth multiple-OT game in tournament history. The previous long was the 1981 championship game, when Syracuse defeated Villanova, 83-80.
The combined score of 244 points shattered the previous BIG EAST tournament record of 189 points (Villanova 96, Pittsburgh 93 in 2ot, March 4, 1998).
Coach Jim Boeheim earned the 796th career triumph of his career. He ranks third among active Division I coaches.
Relive last night's history in preparation for the Orange's semifinal matchup of the BIG EAST Tournament against West Virginia (23-10) tonight, Mar. 13, at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN.
