Medford and Somerville High School Basketball Teams to Play at the Sixth Annual Tufts Classic

The Medford High School Mustangs and Somerville High School Highlanders girls' and boys' basketball teams will face off once again at the sixth annual Tufts Classic on Sunday, January 19 at the Cousens Gymnasium (161 College Avenue, Medford) on Tufts' Medford/Somerville campus.

The girls' game will tip off at 12 p.m., and the boys' game will tip off at 1:30 p.m.

"The Tufts Basketball Classic is a tradition that we at Tufts University look forward to every year," said Rocco DiRico, executive director of the Tufts Office of Government and Community Relations. "We are honored to give the Medford and Somerville teams a college gameday experience in front of a packed stands at Cousens Gymnasium."

Admission to the Tufts Classic is free. Fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food and household items to support those in need in both Medford and Somerville. Donations will be delivered to Medford's Mystic Community Marketand the Somerville Homeless Coalition's Project SOUP. Preferred items include canned foods and shelf stable pantry items, in addition to hygiene and household products.

"The Tufts Classic is one of the highlights of the winter season. It is an amazing community event. Friends and sometimes rivals from Somerville and Medford come together to make an electric atmosphere to celebrate the beauty of interscholastic athletics," said Somerville boys coach Mark Antonelli.

"It is an honor to be able to coach in this event. I can't thank the Tufts University athletic department and administration enough for their continued commitment to putting this great day of high school basketball on," said Antonelli.

The winners of each game will receive the Tufts Classic trophy. Players from all four teams will receive specially branded Tufts Classic t-shirts to commemorate their participation in the doubleheader.

Free parking will be available in the Cousens Gym parking lot and Dowling Garage during the games. Fans will receive the special parking code at the entrance to the game.

The Tufts Classic is just one way that Tufts Athletics supports the Jumbos' host communities. During the fall, the Tufts men's and women's soccer teams welcomed Medford and Somerville Youth soccer players at their Youth Days events. Tufts also hosts a wide variety of local high school sports on campus, including this fall's Medford/Somerville football game.

Earlier this month, several of the Tufts varsity sports teams joined together to play in the first-ever Kickout Homelessness and Hunger Kickball Tournament to raise awareness of homelessness and food insecurity in surrounding communities. Together, the teams raised $1,300 in support of the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

News for Tufts Neighbors

Tufts Awards 35 Grants to Support Local Initiatives

More than 100 Volunteers Join Cherish Chinatown Cleanup

Tufts University Drove $3.1 Billion in U.S. Economic Benefits, $2.1 Billion in Mass., in FY2023