Preview: Stephen F. Austin at Tulsa

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — Two of the nation’s hottest mid-major teams will collide Tuesday night when the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks visit the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a marquee non-conference men’s basketball matchup.

The game, scheduled for March 17, 2026, pits a pair of squads riding high-win seasons. Stephen F. Austin enters at 28-5, while Tulsa boasts a 26-7 record. Both teams are looking to rebound from rare losses in their most recent outings.

The Lumberjacks are coming off a 76-59 home defeat to McNeese State on March 11, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Stephen F. Austin will lean on guard Keon Thompson, who scored 18 points in that loss and has been a consistent offensive force. Thompson is averaging 19.3 points over his last three games, including a 24-point performance in a 60-58 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 10.

Tulsa fell 81-68 at Wichita State on March 14, ending a five-game win streak that included a dramatic 90-84 triple-overtime victory over North Texas. The Golden Hurricane’s engine is guard Tylen Riley, who posted 18 points and five assists against the Shockers. Riley has been a model of efficiency, scoring in double figures in 10 consecutive games and facilitating an offense that has topped 90 points four times since Feb. 18.

The matchup features contrasting tempos. Stephen F. Austin has held opponents under 70 points in seven of its last ten games. Tulsa’s potent attack has averaged 86.2 points during its last five home contests.

This late-season addition to the schedule serves as a final tune-up before postseason play, offering both teams a high-quality opportunity to bolster their resumes against another likely NCAA Tournament contender. The guard duel between Thompson and Riley will be central to the outcome, as each star looks to lead his team back into the win column.