| The Varsity Game | |
 | |
| Contested by | |
 |
 |
| Oxford University | Cambridge University |
| First Varsity Game | 1921 |
| Current champion | Oxford University |
| Biggest Victory | Oxford University, 2010 (117-64) |
| Trophy | The Varsity Cup |
| Number of wins (since 1949) | |
| Oxford University | Cambridge University |
| 55 | 20 |
| Official website | |
| thevarsitygame | |
The Varsity Game is an annual basketball fixture played between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge which dates back to 1921.[1][2] The first post-war Varsity Game was played on 11 June 1949 at RAF Halton and resulted in a 47-11 Oxford win. It has remained an annual event ever since.[1]
In the 1950s, The Varsity Game between Oxford and Cambridge was one of the highlights of the British basketball calendar. The game was of national interest and was held at the Empire Pool and Indoor Arena, Wembley. Uncommon for basketball in the United Kingdom, the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry basketball game received coverage from the national press.[3][4]
The Varsity Game holds a special reverence for the basketball teams at Oxford and Cambridge. Traditionally, it is the final game of the season for both teams and is the highlight of the basketball season.[2] In the 14 March 1966 edition of Sports Illustrated, NBA Hall-of-famer Bill Bradley said in reference to The Varsity Game: "'This game,' remarked Bradley, who flew back from playing with the Italian Simmenthal team in Milan the morning of the event, 'is the only one I care about.'"[5]
The Varsity Game Results
| No. | Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Margin of victory[6] | Oxford total wins | Cambridge total wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 March 1921† 1922–1949 no known games | Muswell Hill | |||||
| 2 | 11 June 1949 | RAF Halton | Oxford | 47-11 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 11 March 1950 | Culham College Gymnasium | Oxford | 37-22 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 10 March 1951 | London | Oxford | 31-23 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | 21 May 1952 | USAF Gymnasium, Upper Heyford | Oxford | 65-40 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | 7 March 1953 | Cambridge Corn Exchange | Oxford | 42-20 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | 11 June 1954 | RAF Upper Heyford | Oxford | 39-30 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | 6 March 1955 | USAF Arena RAF Upper Heyford | Oxford | 73-41 | 32 | 7 | 0 |
| 9 | 11 June 1956 | RAF Lakenheath / USAF Mildenhall | Cambridge | 56-59 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 10 | 7 March 1957 | Cowley Barracks | Oxford | 5-43 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
| 11 | 1958 | Oxford | 9 | 1 | |||
| 12 | 1959 | Cambridge | 34-36 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 13 | 1960 | Cambridge | 52-65 | 13 | 9 | 3 | |
| 14 | 1961 | High school gym near Cambridge | Cambridge | 42-44 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| 15 | 1962 | Cambridge | 38-68 | 30 | 9 | 5 | |
| 16 | 1963 | Cambridge | 39-45 | 6 | 9 | 6 | |
| 17 | 29 February 1964 | RAF Lakenheath | Oxford | 72-49 | 23 | 10 | 6 |
| 18 | 1965 | Oxford | 75-58 | 17 | 11 | 6 | |
| 19 | 5 March 1966 | Lakenheath American High School | Oxford | 76-64 | 8 | 12 | 6 |
| 20 | 4 March 1967 | Iffley Road Sports Centre | Oxford | 71-59 | 12 | 13 | 6 |
| 21 | 9 March 1968 | RAF Lakenheath | Oxford | 78-56 | 22 | 14 | 6 |
| 22 | 1 March 1969 | Iffley Road Sports Centre | Oxford | 67-26 | 41 | 15 | 6 |
| 23 | 29 February 1970 | USAF Lakenheath | Oxford | 79-40 | 39 | 16 | 6 |
| 24 | 27 February 1971 | Iffley Road Sports Centre | Oxford | 88-40 | 48 | 17 | 6 |
| 25 | 1972 | Oxford | 101-60 | 41 | 18 | 6 | |
| 26 | 3 March 1973 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 84-68 | 16 | 19 | 6 |
| 27 | 16 March 1974 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 87-48 | 39 | 20 | 6 |
| 28 | 8 March 1975 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 87-67 | 20 | 21 | 6 |
| 29 | 6 March 1976 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 92-59 | 33 | 22 | 6 |
| 30 | 5 March 1977 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 104-64 | 40 | 23 | 6 |
| 31 | 4 March 1978 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 102-65 | 37 | 24 | 6 |
| 32 | 8 March 1979 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 83-78 | 5 | 25 | 6 |
| 33 | 7 March 1980 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 103-94 | 9 | 26 | 6 |
| 34 | 1 March 1981 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 27 | 6 | ||
| 35 | 7 March 1982 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre | Oxford | 79-76 | 3 | 28 | 6 |
| 36 | 1983 | Cambridge | Oxford | 29 | 6 | ||
| 37 | February 1984 | Iffley Road Sports Centre | Oxford | 94-72 | 22 | 30 | 6 |
| 38 | 9 March 1985 | Cambridge | Cambridge | 62-63 | 1 | 30 | 7 |
| 39 | 1 March 1986 | Iffley Road Sports Centre | Oxford | 90-76 | 14 | 31 | 7 |
| 40 | 1987 | Cambridge | Cambridge | 67-94 | 27 | 31 | 8 |
| 41 | 27 February 1988 | Iffley Road Sports Centre | Oxford | 104-87 | 17 | 32 | 8 |
† – Score and result of the first Varsity Game is unknown.
References
- 1 2 "West Point Association of Graduates". www.westpointaog.org. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- 1 2 "Men's". OXFORD UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL CLUB. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ↑ "Basketball At Wembley". The Times. 31 May 1952.
- ↑ "Basketball". The Times. 1 June 1953.
- ↑ Lovesey, John (14 March 1966). "A Bit Too Much For Blighty". Sports Illustrated.
- ↑