The Varsity Game

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.org

The Varsity Game is an annual basketball fixture played between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge which dates back to 1921. 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.

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.

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. 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.'"

The Varsity Game Results

No.	Date	Venue	Winner	Oxford Points	Cambridge Points	Margin of victory	Oxford total wins	Cambridge total wins
1	25 March 1921† 1922–1949 no known games		Muswell Hill			0
2	11 June 1949	RAF Halton	Oxford	47	11	36	1	0
3	11 June 1950	Culham College Gymnasium	Oxford	37	22	15	2	0
4	11 June 1951	London	Oxford	31	23	8	3	0
5	11 June 1952	USAF Gymnasium, Upper Heyford	Oxford	65	40	2	4	0
6	11 June 1953	Cambridge Corn Exchange	Oxford	42	20	22	5	0
7	11 June 1954	RAF Upper Heyford	Oxford	39	30	9	6	0
8	11 June 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	11 June 1957	Cowley Barracks	Oxford	51	43	8	8	1
11	11 June 1958		Oxford				9	1
12	11 June 1959		Cambridge	34	36	2	9	2
13	11 June 1960		Cambridge	52	65	13	9	3
14	11 June 1961	High school gym near Cambridge	Cambridge	42	44	2	9	4
15	11 June 1962		Cambridge	38	68	30	9	5
16	11 June 1963		Cambridge	39	45	6	9	6
17	11 June 1964	RAF Lakenheath	Oxford	72	49	23	10	6
18	11 June 1965		Oxford	75	58	17	11	6
19	11 June 1966	Lakenheath American High School	Oxford	76	64	8	12	6
20	11 June 1967	Iffley Road Sports Centre	Oxford	71	59	12	13	6
21	11 June 1968	RAF Lakenheath	Oxford	78	56	22	14	6
22	11 June 1969	Iffley Road Sports Centre	Oxford	67	26	41	15	6
23	11 June 1970	USAF Lakenheath	Oxford	79	40	39	16	6
24	11 June 1971	Iffley Road Sports Centre	Oxford	88	40	48	17	6
25	11 June 1972		Oxford	101	60	41	18	6
26	11 June 1973	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre	Oxford	84	68	16	19	6
27	11 June 1974	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre	Oxford	87	48	39	20	6
28	11 June 1975	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre	Oxford	87	67	20	21	6
29	11 June 1976	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre	Oxford	92	59	33	22	6

† – Score and result of the first Varsity Game is unknown.