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2 Halves
College basketball is played in two 20-minute halves. Each team is allowed two 30-second timeouts per half, for a total of four timeouts in a game. At the end of each half, the team with the most points is declared the winner.
4 Quarters
Many people assume that college basketball is played in four quarters, just like the NBA or high school basketball. This is not the case. College basketball is only played in two halves, not four quarters. The NCAA, which oversees college sports, has not allowed four quarters in men’s or women’s college basketball since the 1930s.
Timeouts
Each team is allowed two 30-second timeouts per half, for a total of four timeouts in a game. These timeouts can be used for strategic decisions, such as substituting players or calling a play. When the timeout is over, the game resumes from the point at which it was called.
Overtime Periods
If a game is tied at the end of regulation play, the game enters an overtime period. During the regular season, the NCAA uses a five-minute overtime period. If the game is still tied at the end of the five minutes, the game will enter a second overtime period and then a third, if necessary. During the NCAA tournament, the overtime periods are 10 minutes long.
So, to answer the question: Does college basketball have 4 quarters? No, college basketball does not have four quarters. Instead, it is played in two 20-minute halves with two 30-second timeouts per half. If the game is tied at the end of regulation play, overtime periods will be used to determine a winner.