In the city that never sleeps, No. 3 Connecticut and No. 6 Syracuse played a game that didn’t end until well after 1 a.m. EST, when Syracuse beat Connecticut 127-117 in six overtimes. Neither team led by more than seven points before the final overtime period. Connecticut rallied at the end of regulation to force overtime as Kemba Walker put back a Craig Austrie miss with less than two seconds to go. However, before regulation ended, Eric Devendorf provided some drama.
Devendorf collected a tipped inbounds pass and heaved a three-pointer at the hoop. It went in for an apparent Orange victory, but the referees did not count the basket after determining that the ball had not left Devendorf’s hands before time expired. Replays showed that the ball was clearly on his fingertips when the light flashed and the clock struck 0.0.
In the first overtime, Connecticut led by four when Andy Rautins hit a three-pointer to cut it to one. Stanley Robinson, who finished with 28 points before fouling out, hit 1-of-2 free throws with 14 seconds to give the Huskies a two-point lead. At the other end, Rick Jackson slipped open for a dunk that sent the game into double overtime.
In the second overtime, both teams started to show fatigue as Syracuse and Connecticut combined for only three made baskets. Kemba Walker forced a prayer at the buzzer that was not close.
In the third overtime, Connecticut built a six-point lead after Jeff Adrien tapped in a missed shot by Austrie. Syracuse cut the lead to 97-95 when A.J. Price made only 1-of-2 free throws with 21 seconds to go. Rautins hit another clutch three-pointer with 19 seconds to go to tie the game at 98, and Connecticut could not hit a shot in the Huskies’ final possession.
Both teams eclipsed the 100-point mark in the fourth overtime. Hasheem Thabeet, who had controlled everything within six feet of the basket, fouled out, opening up the lane for the Orange. Devendorf took advantage of Thabeet’s absence and drove to the basket to tie the score at 104 with two minutes remaining. Neither team scored in the final two minutes. Paul Harris had three shots in the final 10 seconds for the Orange, but he failed to finish the play.
As the clock pass 1 a.m. in the fifth overtime, Syracuse was reaching to walk-on Brandon Reese for playing time. Reese logged 24 minutes all season entering the game. Devendorf fouled out with two minutes to go. Jonny Flynn carried the Orange in the fifth overtime, scoring all six of the team’s points.
Rautins opened the sixth overtime with another three-pointer, remarkably giving the Orange their first lead in any overtime session. Harris redeemed himself around the rim by making two layups and drawing a foul for a three-point play.
In sum, nine players fouled out. Flynn led the Orange with 34 points and 11 assists, Harris added 26 and 19 rebounds, and Rautins had 20 points with six three-pointers. For Connecticut, A.J. Price led the Huskies with 31 points. Thabeet finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Jeff Adrien had 12 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. The Huskies collected 71 rebounds as a team.
