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]