The Untouchables is a 10-part series spotlighting college basketball's most unbreakable records. Up next is No. 8: Division I's longest game.

The only seven-overtime game in Division I basketball history probably would have gone even deeper into the night were it not for a little-known role player who didn't waste a rare chance to make an impact.

He was only in the game in the final seconds of the seventh overtime because Cincinnati's two starting forwards fouled out. He only had the ball in his hands because the defense swarmed the Bearcats' primary two scoring options. And even more than three decades later, members of the opposing team still can't believe it was him who beat them.

Reserve forward Doug Schloemer hit the decisive shot in Cincinnati's 75-73 victory over Bradley on Dec. 21, 1981, a left-wing 15-footer with one second remaining in the seventh overtime. That basket punctuated an epic game that lasted well over three hours and assured Schloemer a permanent place in Bearcats lore.

"It was a pretty neat thing," Schloemer said. "Anytime there is a long game or there's an anniversary, I always get asked to get on the radio. It's one of the top moments in my career."

The marathon between Cincinnati and Bradley is one of just three games to reach seven overtimes at any level of college basketball. The only other Division I games that ever even went to a sixth overtime are Niagara's 88-81 victory over Siena in 1953, Minnesota's 59-56 win over Purdue in 1955 and Syracuse's 127-117 classic against UConn in 2009.

Glance at the handwritten box score from the Cincinnati-Bradley game, and the numbers in the minutes column will look like they ought to be misprints. Nine players logged 60 or more minutes highlighted by Bradley center Donald Reese and Cincinnati guard Bobby Austin, both of whom set a Division I record by playing 73 of a possible 75 minutes. (more...)