Skidmore Beats Southern Vermont in Seven Overtimes, Ties NCAA Record

If you've never heard of the Southern Vermont Mountaineers or Skidmore Thoroughbreds, you aren't alone. The two relatively obscure Division III teams did something Tuesday night that had never been done at their level -- and had happened just twice in NCAA history. The two teams battled for seven overtimes.

The previous record for Division III was five overtimes. According to a press release from Skidmore, Cincinnati and Bradley (Division I) equaled the total of seven OTs in 1981, as did Yankton and Black Hills (Division II) in 1956. No other men's college basketball games have ever lasted so long.

The final score was 128-123 with Skidmore coming out on top.

"Words are hard to describe what I just witnessed," Skidmore coach Joe Burke said to the school's website. "It was completely a battle of wills and both teams refused to give in. We won the game but really there are no losers in a game like that. Both teams played 'til complete exhaustion.

"I kept telling the guys as each overtime passed to really enjoy the moment. They will never be involved in anything like that in their lives again, I kept telling them, 'This is fun, isn't it?' But by the 6th overtime, I think that wore out."

 

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/skidmore-beats-southern-vermont-in-seven-overtimes-ties-ncaa-re/

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