Saturday, January 24
Houston, Texas
3:30 p.m.
Tulsa
at
Rice
Tulsa Travels to Houston Looking for Season Sweep of Rice
1/23/2026 10:19:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas — Tulsa travels south going for its fourth straight win as they take on Rice on Saturday in Tudor Fieldhouse.
Date/Time: January 24, 2026 / 3:30 PM
Site: Houston, Texas
Arena: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,750)
Radio: 99.5 FM KVOO Big Country, Learfield Network affiliates, and Varsity Network App
Talent: Bruce Howard (pxp) & J.R. Rollo (analyst)
Video: ESPN+
Talent: Jason Metko (pxp) & Brooke Kirchhoffer (analyst), Abby Christopherson (sideline)
History: Tulsa leads, 31-8
In Houston: Tulsa leads, 11-6
Streak: Won 1
MEDIA CENTRAL
STORY LINES
• Tulsa is riding a three-game winning streak into the weekend.
• Tulsa has dominated during that winning streak, outscoring opponents 89.3 to 72.3. David Green (20.7), Miles Barnstable (20.0), Tylen Riley (15.7), and Tyler Behrend (11.0) have paced the offense in that span.
• Tulsa's starting five of Barnstable, Behrend, Green, Popoola, and Riley leads the American Conference lead with a +/- of +101. That ranks them 8th in the country as a group per EvanMiya.com. The next closest 5-man unit in the American Conference belongs to Wichita State at +66.
• Tulsa is one of 10 programs with 16 games with 80-plus points, High Point and Gonzaga lead the country at 18.
• Tulsa is one of the best teams in the country at the free throw line, ranking third in the country at .795 percent. The Golden Hurricane have the top three free throw shooters in the American with Miles Barnstable leading the league (.952), followed by Tylen Riley (.892), and Myles Rigsby (.889).
• Barnstable leads the country at the charity stripe, shooting 60-for-63. The senior is also shooting 40-for-109 (.450) to lead the conference and rank 15th in the nation.
• The Golden Hurricane are eighth in the country in three-point percentage at .394 percent.
• Tulsa is one of eight programs to use the same starting five all season along with; Arizona, Elon, Houston, Merrimack, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, and Stephen F. Austin.
• Tulsa is one of four teams in the country to not have a player with a double figure rebound game this season. American Conference foe Temple along with Davidson and Houston Christian are also on the list.
• Tulsa is coming off a 17-point win over Memphis. The Golden Hurricane closed the game on a 26-4 run to knock off the defending conference champions.
SERIES HISTORY
• This is the 40th meeting between the programs all-time, Tulsa leads 31-8.
• Tulsa won the last meeting, earlier this season, 97-48, in the Reynolds Center. The team shot a Reynolds Center record .684 (13-for-19) in the effort, winning by the second largest margin of victory in an American Conference game all time.
• Eric Konkol is 12-4 in his career against Rice, tied for his most wins against a school along with Southern Miss.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• The Owls are 8-11 on the season and 2-4 in American Conference play.
• Rice has alternated wins and losses over its last five games and is coming off a 69-65 defeat against Temple on Wednesday.
• Rice is third in the American in three-point percentage at .361 percent.
SEASON NOTABLES
• Head coach Eric Konkol reached 200 wins for his career in a 97-48 win over Rice.
• Tulsa won the Mayor's Cup despite Oral Roberts shooting .500 percent from the field and making 14 threes. Since the 2004-05 season per Stathead, it is Tulsa's first road win in which the opponent shot .500 percent or better from the field and made 10 or more threes. Last season, teams were 839-13 (.985) at home, shooting .500 percent or better from the field, and made more than 10 threes.
• The Golden Hurricane won their first in-season tournament, the Acrisure Holiday Invitational, since 2002 with a 63-60 victory over Northern Iowa.
• The Golden Hurricane have played three one-point games this season, with two in back-to-back games (Oral Roberts and Kansas State). It was the team's first back-to-back one-point finishes since 2011. The team is 2-1 in one-point games this season. It's the team's most one-point games since 2008-09.
• Tulsa's 117-point performance against UAPB set a new Reynolds Center facility record for points in a game. It was the ninth-most points in a game in school history and is the program's first game with 115-plus points since 2000.
• Three opponents on the schedule are new to the Golden Hurricane men's basketball program, Oklahoma Christian, Manhattan Christian, and Denver.
• Tulsa received their highest ever NET ranking in the first batch of rankings, released on Dec. 1 at No. 27 in the country. The program's previous high was No. 52 back in 2020-21. Last season the Golden Hurricane finished ranked No. 271.
• Tulsa's 10-game winning streak was the program's longest since the 2014-15 season when they won 12 straight. It was the longest winning streak of head coach Eric Konkol's career.
• Tulsa went undefeated in the month of December. It was the team's first perfect month since January 2015 when the Golden Hurricane went 7-0 as part of that 12-game winning streak. The program last went undefeated in the month of December in 1983 when Nolan Richardson's squad went 7-0 before finishing the season 27-4.
• Tulsa's 97-48 win over Rice to open American Conference play was the team's largest ever margin of victory in an American Conference game and the second largest ever in a conference game in league history. Tulsa shot 13-of-19 (.684) from three-point range, the best mark in Reynolds Center history.
• Tulsa is 4-1 in coaches challenges this season.
OVER 80
• Tulsa got off to a terrific start offensively, scoring 80+ points in each of the first six contests, they would also have a streak of seven straight games of over 80 points.
• It was the program's longest such streak(s) since the 2001-02 season, a streak of seven games. That team would score 80+ points 19 times.
• The program's single season record is 21 times, set back in 1983-84, under head coach Nolan Richardson. This season Tulsa has scored over 80 points 14 times.
• Tulsa has averaged 80 or more points in a season 14 times but not since 2001-02.
• Tulsa has three games scoring 100-plus points this season, their most 100-point performances in a year since 1995-96.
• Last season the Golden Hurricane scored 80-plus points 10 times, already surpassing that total with 15.
• Tulsa's top five scoring seasons by points per game with head coach and final record:
• 1983-84 (Nolan Ricardson, 27-4) - 90.8
• 2025-26 (Eric Konkol, 13-2) - 88.0*
• 1972-73 (Ken Hayes, 18-8) - 85.3
• 1970-71 (Ken Hayes, 17-9) - 84.2
• 1993-94 (Tubby Smith, 23-8) - 83.4
SPREADING THE LOVE
• Tulsa has had at least 15 assists in 15 of 19 games of the season. The Golden Hurricane reached that mark just 12 times last season.
• Thrice this season Tulsa has had at least 20 assists in a game, tying a school record also set in 1993-94, 2015-16, 2018-19, and 2020-21.
• Tulsa has assisted on .553 of made field goals this season, 302-of-546.
LONGEVITY IN THE LEAGUE
• Head coach Eric Konkol is in his fourth season with the Golden Hurricane.
• Konkol entered the year tied for the fourth-longest tenured coach in the American Conference.
• Only Penny Hardaway (Memphis, 8th season), Ron Hunter (Tulane, 7th season), and Andy Kennedy (UAB, 6th season) have been in the league longer.
• East Carolina head coach, and former Tulsa assistant, Michael Scwartz, is also entering his fourth season leading his program.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE
• Tulsa's starting five of Barnstable, Behrend, Green, Popoola, and Riley leads the American Conference lead with a +/- of +101. That ranks them 8th in the country as a group per EvanMiya.com. The next closest 5-man unit in the American Conference belongs to Wichita State at +66.
• Tulsa is 18th in the country in points per game (88.0), 17th in scoring margin (16.4), eighth in three-point percentage (.394), and third in free throw percentage (.795).
• The Golden Hurricane bench has been terrific, averaging 27.4 points per game, the third best mark in the American Conference, only trailing Memphis (33.4).
• Tulsa leads the American Conference in point differential (16.4), field goal percentage (.490), three-point percentage (.394), threes per game (10.3), free throw percentage (.795), and rebound margin (8.4).
• All 10 regulars in the Golden Hurricane rotation have had at least one game with 10 or more points.
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY TOO
• While the offense is receiving the headlines, the Tulsa defense has been strong this season too.
• Tulsa is allowing 71.9 points per game, the fourth fewest in the American Conference and 130th in the country.
• They are holding opponents to a .424 shooting percentage, fourth in the American and just outside the top 100 in the country at 112th.
LAST TIME OUT
• Tulsa ran away with an 83-66 win over Memphis at the Reynolds Center, ending the game on a 26-4 run over the final seven minutes of the game.
• The Golden Hurricane were led by Miles Barnstable's 17 points while Tylen Riley stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds.
• Tulsa trailed 62-57 at the under-eight timeout before pulling retaking the lead on a 13-0 run.
UP NEXT
• Tulsa returns home to the Reynolds Center next week for a pair of games starting with North Texas on Wednesday.
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.
Date/Time: January 24, 2026 / 3:30 PM
Site: Houston, Texas
Arena: Tudor Fieldhouse (5,750)
Radio: 99.5 FM KVOO Big Country, Learfield Network affiliates, and Varsity Network App
Talent: Bruce Howard (pxp) & J.R. Rollo (analyst)
Video: ESPN+
Talent: Jason Metko (pxp) & Brooke Kirchhoffer (analyst), Abby Christopherson (sideline)
History: Tulsa leads, 31-8
In Houston: Tulsa leads, 11-6
Streak: Won 1
MEDIA CENTRAL
STORY LINES
• Tulsa is riding a three-game winning streak into the weekend.
• Tulsa has dominated during that winning streak, outscoring opponents 89.3 to 72.3. David Green (20.7), Miles Barnstable (20.0), Tylen Riley (15.7), and Tyler Behrend (11.0) have paced the offense in that span.
• Tulsa's starting five of Barnstable, Behrend, Green, Popoola, and Riley leads the American Conference lead with a +/- of +101. That ranks them 8th in the country as a group per EvanMiya.com. The next closest 5-man unit in the American Conference belongs to Wichita State at +66.
• Tulsa is one of 10 programs with 16 games with 80-plus points, High Point and Gonzaga lead the country at 18.
• Tulsa is one of the best teams in the country at the free throw line, ranking third in the country at .795 percent. The Golden Hurricane have the top three free throw shooters in the American with Miles Barnstable leading the league (.952), followed by Tylen Riley (.892), and Myles Rigsby (.889).
• Barnstable leads the country at the charity stripe, shooting 60-for-63. The senior is also shooting 40-for-109 (.450) to lead the conference and rank 15th in the nation.
• The Golden Hurricane are eighth in the country in three-point percentage at .394 percent.
• Tulsa is one of eight programs to use the same starting five all season along with; Arizona, Elon, Houston, Merrimack, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, and Stephen F. Austin.
• Tulsa is one of four teams in the country to not have a player with a double figure rebound game this season. American Conference foe Temple along with Davidson and Houston Christian are also on the list.
• Tulsa is coming off a 17-point win over Memphis. The Golden Hurricane closed the game on a 26-4 run to knock off the defending conference champions.
SERIES HISTORY
• This is the 40th meeting between the programs all-time, Tulsa leads 31-8.
• Tulsa won the last meeting, earlier this season, 97-48, in the Reynolds Center. The team shot a Reynolds Center record .684 (13-for-19) in the effort, winning by the second largest margin of victory in an American Conference game all time.
• Eric Konkol is 12-4 in his career against Rice, tied for his most wins against a school along with Southern Miss.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• The Owls are 8-11 on the season and 2-4 in American Conference play.
• Rice has alternated wins and losses over its last five games and is coming off a 69-65 defeat against Temple on Wednesday.
• Rice is third in the American in three-point percentage at .361 percent.
SEASON NOTABLES
• Head coach Eric Konkol reached 200 wins for his career in a 97-48 win over Rice.
• Tulsa won the Mayor's Cup despite Oral Roberts shooting .500 percent from the field and making 14 threes. Since the 2004-05 season per Stathead, it is Tulsa's first road win in which the opponent shot .500 percent or better from the field and made 10 or more threes. Last season, teams were 839-13 (.985) at home, shooting .500 percent or better from the field, and made more than 10 threes.
• The Golden Hurricane won their first in-season tournament, the Acrisure Holiday Invitational, since 2002 with a 63-60 victory over Northern Iowa.
• The Golden Hurricane have played three one-point games this season, with two in back-to-back games (Oral Roberts and Kansas State). It was the team's first back-to-back one-point finishes since 2011. The team is 2-1 in one-point games this season. It's the team's most one-point games since 2008-09.
• Tulsa's 117-point performance against UAPB set a new Reynolds Center facility record for points in a game. It was the ninth-most points in a game in school history and is the program's first game with 115-plus points since 2000.
• Three opponents on the schedule are new to the Golden Hurricane men's basketball program, Oklahoma Christian, Manhattan Christian, and Denver.
• Tulsa received their highest ever NET ranking in the first batch of rankings, released on Dec. 1 at No. 27 in the country. The program's previous high was No. 52 back in 2020-21. Last season the Golden Hurricane finished ranked No. 271.
• Tulsa's 10-game winning streak was the program's longest since the 2014-15 season when they won 12 straight. It was the longest winning streak of head coach Eric Konkol's career.
• Tulsa went undefeated in the month of December. It was the team's first perfect month since January 2015 when the Golden Hurricane went 7-0 as part of that 12-game winning streak. The program last went undefeated in the month of December in 1983 when Nolan Richardson's squad went 7-0 before finishing the season 27-4.
• Tulsa's 97-48 win over Rice to open American Conference play was the team's largest ever margin of victory in an American Conference game and the second largest ever in a conference game in league history. Tulsa shot 13-of-19 (.684) from three-point range, the best mark in Reynolds Center history.
• Tulsa is 4-1 in coaches challenges this season.
OVER 80
• Tulsa got off to a terrific start offensively, scoring 80+ points in each of the first six contests, they would also have a streak of seven straight games of over 80 points.
• It was the program's longest such streak(s) since the 2001-02 season, a streak of seven games. That team would score 80+ points 19 times.
• The program's single season record is 21 times, set back in 1983-84, under head coach Nolan Richardson. This season Tulsa has scored over 80 points 14 times.
• Tulsa has averaged 80 or more points in a season 14 times but not since 2001-02.
• Tulsa has three games scoring 100-plus points this season, their most 100-point performances in a year since 1995-96.
• Last season the Golden Hurricane scored 80-plus points 10 times, already surpassing that total with 15.
• Tulsa's top five scoring seasons by points per game with head coach and final record:
• 1983-84 (Nolan Ricardson, 27-4) - 90.8
• 2025-26 (Eric Konkol, 13-2) - 88.0*
• 1972-73 (Ken Hayes, 18-8) - 85.3
• 1970-71 (Ken Hayes, 17-9) - 84.2
• 1993-94 (Tubby Smith, 23-8) - 83.4
SPREADING THE LOVE
• Tulsa has had at least 15 assists in 15 of 19 games of the season. The Golden Hurricane reached that mark just 12 times last season.
• Thrice this season Tulsa has had at least 20 assists in a game, tying a school record also set in 1993-94, 2015-16, 2018-19, and 2020-21.
• Tulsa has assisted on .553 of made field goals this season, 302-of-546.
LONGEVITY IN THE LEAGUE
• Head coach Eric Konkol is in his fourth season with the Golden Hurricane.
• Konkol entered the year tied for the fourth-longest tenured coach in the American Conference.
• Only Penny Hardaway (Memphis, 8th season), Ron Hunter (Tulane, 7th season), and Andy Kennedy (UAB, 6th season) have been in the league longer.
• East Carolina head coach, and former Tulsa assistant, Michael Scwartz, is also entering his fourth season leading his program.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE
• Tulsa's starting five of Barnstable, Behrend, Green, Popoola, and Riley leads the American Conference lead with a +/- of +101. That ranks them 8th in the country as a group per EvanMiya.com. The next closest 5-man unit in the American Conference belongs to Wichita State at +66.
• Tulsa is 18th in the country in points per game (88.0), 17th in scoring margin (16.4), eighth in three-point percentage (.394), and third in free throw percentage (.795).
• The Golden Hurricane bench has been terrific, averaging 27.4 points per game, the third best mark in the American Conference, only trailing Memphis (33.4).
• Tulsa leads the American Conference in point differential (16.4), field goal percentage (.490), three-point percentage (.394), threes per game (10.3), free throw percentage (.795), and rebound margin (8.4).
• All 10 regulars in the Golden Hurricane rotation have had at least one game with 10 or more points.
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY TOO
• While the offense is receiving the headlines, the Tulsa defense has been strong this season too.
• Tulsa is allowing 71.9 points per game, the fourth fewest in the American Conference and 130th in the country.
• They are holding opponents to a .424 shooting percentage, fourth in the American and just outside the top 100 in the country at 112th.
LAST TIME OUT
• Tulsa ran away with an 83-66 win over Memphis at the Reynolds Center, ending the game on a 26-4 run over the final seven minutes of the game.
• The Golden Hurricane were led by Miles Barnstable's 17 points while Tylen Riley stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds.
• Tulsa trailed 62-57 at the under-eight timeout before pulling retaking the lead on a 13-0 run.
UP NEXT
• Tulsa returns home to the Reynolds Center next week for a pair of games starting with North Texas on Wednesday.
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.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Memphis Radio Highlights
Thursday, January 22
MBB | Eric Konkol Memphis Postgame
Thursday, January 22
MBB | Konkol Memphis Preview
Monday, January 19
MBB | Konkol 1-12-26 Preview
Monday, January 12