Tuesday, March 17
Tulsa, Okla.
8 p.m.
Tulsa
27-7,13-5American
89
vs
84
Stephen F. Austin
28-6,20-2Southland
1st quarter1
2nd quarter2
OT 1 quarterOT 1
FinalF
SFA
39
37
8
84
Tulsa
36
40
13
89
Lawal Sparks Second Half Comeback to Advance to NIT Second Round
3/18/2026 12:29:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. — Trailing by as many 13 in the second half, Tulsa staged a late rally to defeat Stephen F. Austin, 89-84, in overtime to advance to the second round of the NIT. Freshman Jaylen Lawal scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half and overtime to lead Tulsa to their 27th win of the season, matching the second-most wins in a season in school history.
Ade Popoola added 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and recorded three steals. Tyler Behrend contributed significantly on the boards, collecting 12 rebounds along with nine points. Tylen Riley scored 10 points and made 8 of 11 free throws, while also registering two steals.
The game opened with the Golden Hurricane's Romad Dean scoring a layup at 19:19, putting Tulsa on the board first. Popoola contributed significantly to Tulsa's early offense, hitting a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer, while also assisting on a Lawal layup. The Lumberjacks' Gediminas Alisas and Lateef Patrick Jr. responded with crucial baskets, with Patrick Jr. connecting on a fast-break 3-pointer to keep the score close. In the final seconds of the half, Keon Thompson's jumper gave the Lumberjacks a 39-36 lead heading into the break.
Tulsa battled back in the second half, closing the gap against Stephen F. Austin with a strong late-game surge. The Lumberjacks initially extended their lead to 50-37 at the 16:55 mark, following Thompson's fast-break free throws. However, the Golden Hurricane responded with a 15-7 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Lawal at 6:20 and a layup by Ian Smikle at 13:38, narrowing the deficit to 70-69. With only 28 seconds left, Popoola's jumper gave Tulsa a 74-72 advantage. Despite a late push by the Lumberjacks, Tulsa's Riley secured the victory with crucial free throws in the final seconds, as both teams ended regulation tied at 76-76.
In overtime, Tulsa surged ahead with a crucial performance at the free-throw line and timely defense. Lawal hit a 3-pointer at the 46-second mark, giving Tulsa an 86-84 lead. Lawal followed with a defensive rebound and added two free throws with 22 seconds left, extending Tulsa's lead to 88-84. Tulsa's defense held strong, securing the win as the Lumberjacks missed multiple 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
Tulsa will host UNLV on Saturday or Sunday in the second round of the NIT.
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.
Ade Popoola added 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and recorded three steals. Tyler Behrend contributed significantly on the boards, collecting 12 rebounds along with nine points. Tylen Riley scored 10 points and made 8 of 11 free throws, while also registering two steals.
The game opened with the Golden Hurricane's Romad Dean scoring a layup at 19:19, putting Tulsa on the board first. Popoola contributed significantly to Tulsa's early offense, hitting a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer, while also assisting on a Lawal layup. The Lumberjacks' Gediminas Alisas and Lateef Patrick Jr. responded with crucial baskets, with Patrick Jr. connecting on a fast-break 3-pointer to keep the score close. In the final seconds of the half, Keon Thompson's jumper gave the Lumberjacks a 39-36 lead heading into the break.
Tulsa battled back in the second half, closing the gap against Stephen F. Austin with a strong late-game surge. The Lumberjacks initially extended their lead to 50-37 at the 16:55 mark, following Thompson's fast-break free throws. However, the Golden Hurricane responded with a 15-7 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Lawal at 6:20 and a layup by Ian Smikle at 13:38, narrowing the deficit to 70-69. With only 28 seconds left, Popoola's jumper gave Tulsa a 74-72 advantage. Despite a late push by the Lumberjacks, Tulsa's Riley secured the victory with crucial free throws in the final seconds, as both teams ended regulation tied at 76-76.
In overtime, Tulsa surged ahead with a crucial performance at the free-throw line and timely defense. Lawal hit a 3-pointer at the 46-second mark, giving Tulsa an 86-84 lead. Lawal followed with a defensive rebound and added two free throws with 22 seconds left, extending Tulsa's lead to 88-84. Tulsa's defense held strong, securing the win as the Lumberjacks missed multiple 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
Tulsa will host UNLV on Saturday or Sunday in the second round of the NIT.
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.
Team Stats
SFA
Tulsa
FG%
.457
.358
3FG%
.313
.273
FT%
.625
.780
RB
36
50
TO
14
14
STL
13
12
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
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