Tulsa Wins Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Defensive Slugfest Over Northern Iowa

Wednesday, November 26

Palm Desert, Calif.

3:30 p.m.

Tulsa

6-1,0-0American

Northern Iowa

6-1,0-0MVC

UNI

Tulsa

Men's Basketball celebrates winning the Acrisure Holiday Invitational

Tulsa Wins Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Defensive Slugfest Over Northern Iowa

11/26/2025 7:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Tulsa won the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in a defensive battle over previously undefeated Northern Iowa, 63-60, on Wednesday at the Acrisure Arena. It was Tulsa's first win in an in-season tournament since 2002.

Jaylen Lawal scored 12 points, converting 4-of-7 field goal attempts and making both free throws. Tylen Riley led the team with 13 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, and added three assists. Miles Barnstable, who would be named Tournament MVP, contributed 11 points, making three 3-pointers and recording two blocks. Myles Rigsby added 10 points, with a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, while also securing two steals and three assists.

Tulsa as a team was 14-of-15 from the charity stripe and kept the Panthers off the free throw line, holding them to just 10 attempts. The Golden Hurricane were held to under 80 points for the first time this season, snapping a streak of six games of reaching that plateau, the team's longest such streak since the 2001-02 season. Tulsa is 6-1 for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

The Golden Hurricane (6-1) and the Panthers (6-1) traded early leads as both teams remained evenly matched throughout the first half, resulting in five ties. The Panthers' Tristan Smith opened the scoring with a layup, assisted by his own rebound work and later contributed a tip-in to keep the contest tight. Rigsby was effective from the line, hitting crucial free throws, while Lawal scored back-to-back 3-pointers and a layup to help Tulsa pull ahead. David Green's 3-pointer at the 3:28 mark contributed to Tulsa's 34-27 lead at the end of the half, despite a late fast-break dunk by Leon Bond III for UNI.

Tulsa maintained a narrow lead throughout the second half, ultimately edging UNI 63-60. Early in the half, Riley contributed significantly with a pair of free throws at 19:26 and later added a fast-break layup at the 9:14 mark. UNI's Will Hornseth was pivotal in keeping the game close, scoring multiple baskets including a layup at 4:56. Kyle Pock's 3-pointer at the 1:37 mark brought UNI within three points, but Barnstable's 3-pointer with 1:22 remaining helped secure Tulsa's victory.

Up next, the Golden Hurricane are back home to host Manhattan Christian on December 2 in the Reynolds Center.

Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans can also follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram.