Developed from last season, TU men’s basketball dominates Home Opener.
The University of Tulsa Men’s Basketball team celebrated the new NCAA Basketball season with a blowout win over the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles on Monday night at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane dominated the matchup, winning 100-57 in their first official game of the season.
Coming into the matchup, TU looked to show major signs of improvement from last season, where they finished 13-20 overall. The ever-popular KenPom rankings supported this possibility with TU rising to 139th in the country after ending last season in 267th.
From the opening tip, TU proved itself to be a class above OC. Tyler Behrend won the tip for the Golden Hurricane as they started the game aggressive, attacking the rim on their first three possessions. The first points of the season went to TU’s big man David Green, who scored two at the free throw line to put the Golden Hurricane ahead 2-0.
After taking the lead with the first bucket, TU led the game the rest of the way. The Golden Hurricane manufactured a quick 9-0 run in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the game, characterized by drawing fouls at the rim and a smooth three-pointer by Miles Barnstable.
Ian Smikle, one of only two returning players for the Golden Hurricane, made his presence felt early. Using his size and strength, he recorded two early offensive rebounds and two blocks, as well as multiple trips to the free-throw line.
TU carried this momentum with them on the defensive end, showcasing the characteristics of an Eric Konkol-coached basketball team: a multitude of active, switchable perimeter defenders that deny as many paint touches as possible for the opposing team. In the first eight minutes, OC was only able to shoot 31% from the field while dealing with this tough defense.
Free-throw line trips quickly became a major theme of the game, as TU shot 29 free throws in the first half alone. After early struggles, going nine for fourteen, TU would make their next fifteen to end the half up 22, leading by a score of 52-30.
The physicality of the Golden Hurricane characterized the first half, as the Eagles struggled to match the athletic ability of TU. OC’s physical defense only resulted in foul calls; they had no answer for the transition offense and sheer strength of Tulsa.
OC came out of the halftime break trying to cut into the big lead with a few three-pointers, but it was too little, too late. Tyler Behren stopped the Eagles’ early run with three offensive rebounds on one play before finally putting in the basket for two points.
Offensive rebounds came in excess for TU with six Golden Hurricane recording at least two as they out-rebounded OC 61-21. Big nights from Romad Dean, KJ Martin Jr., Ian Smikle, and Tyler Behrend helped TU dominate the glass and dominate the matchup, as the final score would end 100-57.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane Men’s Basketball team will be back in action on Nov. 7 when they travel to Maryland to take on the University of Rhode Island Rams in the 12th edition of the Veterans Classic. They will then return to Tulsa, but play on the road, as they take on Oral Roberts University in the Battle for the Mayor’s Cup on Nov. 15.
