CAPE SAINT CLAIRE, Md. (Interstat) — In a commanding performance away from home, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane remained undefeated early in the season with a decisive 82-65 victory over the Rhode Island Rams in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday night at Alumni Hall.

Tulsa, now 2-0, used a balanced offensive attack and a stifling first-half defensive effort to seize control of the game and never looked back. The Golden Hurricane built a 36-29 lead by halftime and extended their advantage after the break, outscoring the Rams 46-36 in the second half.

The game was defined by a collective effort from Tulsa, which saw six players score in double figures. David Green, a 6-foot-7 forward from Apopka, Florida, led the way with 14 points, 4 assists and a block. He was instrumental on both ends of the floor, setting the tone early with a layup on the game’s first possession.

He was joined by a trio of players with 13 points each: guard Miles Barnstable of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who added 4 assists; forward Romad Dean of Freeport, Bahamas; and guard Tylen Riley of Las Vegas, who chipped in 3 assists. Guard Jaylen Lawal of Plano, Texas, provided a significant spark off the bench, scoring all 11 of his points in the first half to help Tulsa establish its lead.

For Rhode Island, which fell to 1-1, the offense ran primarily through guard Jonah Hinton. The Chicago native poured in a game-high 19 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Tulsa’s depth. Forward Jahmere Tripp, from Brooklyn, New York, added 14 points and 4 assists, while fellow Chicagoan Tyler Cochran also scored 13 points. Forward Keeyan Itejere of Knightdale, North Carolina, contributed 10 points.

Statistically, the game was closer in several categories than the final score indicated. Both teams scored 32 points in the paint and neither squad managed a fastbreak point. Tulsa held a slight edge in points off turnovers, 15-12. The difference came from Tulsa’s ability to generate quality shots and get contributions from across its roster, while Rhode Island’s offense struggled to find consistent rhythm outside of Hinton’s production.

The Golden Hurricane set the pace from the opening tip, jumping out to an early lead. Key three-pointers from Barnstable and Lawal in the first half stretched the defense and created driving lanes. Rhode Island stayed within striking distance for much of the first period, but a late push by Tulsa gave the visitors a seven-point cushion at the break.

In the second half, Tulsa methodically expanded its lead, answering every Rhode Island push with timely baskets. A three-pointer from Dean midway through the half pushed the lead to double digits, and the Golden Hurricane maintained that margin for the remainder of the contest, cruising to their second comfortable win of the young season.

The result was a mild upset according to pregame projections. Interstat’s ELO system had given Rhode Island a 60.2 percent probability to win, and the Rams had been installed as a 2-point favorite. The total score of 147 fell well under the over/under line of 154.5.

Tulsa looks to continue its winning streak when it travels to face in-state foe Oral Roberts on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Rhode Island will aim to rebound at home against Stonehill on Tuesday, Nov. 11.