Big East Tournament: Syracuse Orange vs. Connecticut Huskies

Thursday March 12, 2009 9:50 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Jonny Flynn #10 and Paul Harris #11 of the Syracuse Orange look on during the 4th overtime against the Connecticut Huskies during the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

By JIM O'CONNELL, AP Basketball Writer 2 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP)—Syracuse outlasted Connecticut in the second-longest Division I game ever played, capping a Big East tournament quarterfinal doubleheader Thursday in which the second- and third-ranked teams in the country both lost.

Andy Rautins hit a 3-pointer 10 seconds into the sixth overtime Thursday night, giving the Orange their first lead since regulation and they went on to a 127-117 victory over the third-ranked Huskies.

Much earlier in the evening, West Virginia beat No. 2 Pittsburgh 74-60, meaning that instead of a much-anticipated third meeting between two teams that held the No. 1 ranking this season in the semifinals it will be sixth-seeded and 18th-ranked Syracuse and the seventh-seeded Mountaineers.

Big East Tournament: Syracuse Orange v Connecticut Huskies

By Max J. Dickstein

typed live from CBS announcers' commentary

war of attrition

Hasheem Thabeet fouled out, and the Syracuse big man jackson

Syracuse can attack the rim now with the 7-footer Thabeet out

Syracuse-UConn 4th overtime

walker way of on a three for UConn

Flynn could try a jumpshot

passes to Harris, three times stopped at the rim

he's missed a lot of them

layups traded, 1:50 to go, tied at 104-104

pass to the middle of the zone, floater, missed

off people's fingertips

flynn posts up low with the balll, passes, gets it back

Flynn to the rim with a great basketball move, but misses the reverse

Fynn has played 57 minutes

harris unable to convert at the finish!

the extra pass set it up

he's on the floor but they're hesitant to call that

I like the no-call there don't you?

end fourth overtime

Big East Tournament: Syracuse Orange v Connecticut Huskies

NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Jeff Adrien #4 of the Connecticut Huskies drives to the hoop against Arinze Onuaku #21 the Syracuse Orange during the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

start fifth overtime

106-104 UConn leads

2:14 to go in fifth overtime

Jim Boeheim probably wants to walk over to that rim and rip it down, Jay Bilas says. It has been unkind.

Jonny Flynn is 10-for-10 tonight.

Tied again at 108. 45 seconds to go.

Two minutes all this guy has played

sprint to the middle by poised substitute

Jonny Flynn, talk about poise

he ties the game with his 12th free throw

110-110

Flynn was invited to drive and took very fast advantage

"Adrian! Nooo!"

A sixth overtime

"Yo Adrian, could not deliver the knockout punch. Incredible"

end fifth overtime

start sixth overtime

Connecticut has not lost a game this season leading at the half

of course, that was a couple of months

Harris fouls Harrison

2:09 left in the sixth overtime, Syracuse leads 119-112 after Harris makes both free throws. Orange are 18-for-20 from the line in the six overtimes. Harris gets up for some rebound.

Price. Great ticker that kid has.

1:47 to go

Jonny Flynn, this takes him to legendary status

since the headband snapped, Syracuse has been able to get ahead

this game tipped off at 9:36 Eastern time, it is now 1:06 a.m.

The mental toughness shown by Syracuse in these overtimes has been amazing.

122-112

The performance here gives Jim Boeheim a different kind of pride than the national championship.

you don't think there's a loser, there is a survivor

In true Connecticut tradition, the Huskies fighting to the end.

a three-pointer by the gunslinger from Mississippi makes it a two-possession game. 123-117

Flynn two free throws

They're two tired to cheer on the Syracuse bench

great courage from both sides

"Clearly one of the most remarkable games in the history of this sport" — Jay Bilas

127-117 after Flynn's free throws

Astrid an air ball. They are just totally spent.

This is a tribute to loving a game and putting it all on the line.

Game over

Syracuse wins in sixth overtime, 127-117

"I've never been prouder of a team than this one tonight. We had nothing." — Jim Boeheim

"I kept telling my teammates. This is destiny for us, " said Jonny Flynn. The point guard told his men on court, "We played this long, all we can do is win the game."

Wrapup: "Six overtimes. Syracuse never led in any of the first five. They outscore Connecticut 17-7 in the sixth to win 127-117. ... You'll be seeing it for a long time folks. ... Very privileged to be here."