Tulsa Dominates Rice in Convincing Win
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · Reynolds Center
Tulsa Golden Hurricane 97, Rice Owls 48, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Rice Owls vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane?
Tulsa Golden Hurricane beat Rice Owls 97-48 at Reynolds Center on December 31, 2025.
Who was favored in Rice Owls vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane?
Tulsa Golden Hurricane were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -950 (about 90% implied). The favorite won.
In a commanding display, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane overwhelmed the Rice Owls with a final score of 97-48 at the Reynolds Center. This game showcased Tulsa's impressive form, as they extended their winning streak to nine games, reflecting a dominant home record of 13-1 for the season. The Golden Hurricane has averaged 89.2 points per game over their last ten outings, while allowing 72.4 points, demonstrating both offensive prowess and defensive resilience.
Tulsa's recent performances have been particularly striking, with their last five games yielding an average of 94.0 points scored and 78.8 points allowed. Their latest victory against the Denver Pioneers, which ended 90-85, further solidified their momentum heading into this match against Rice. The Golden Hurricane's home record stands at a perfect 6-0, indicating their strong performance on their home court.
Conversely, the Rice Owls have struggled this season, holding a record of 6-8 overall and 0-4 in away games. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a record of 5-5 in their last ten games and an average of 74.9 points scored against 75.3 points allowed. The Owls are coming off a loss to the Pepperdine Waves, where they fell 62-84, marking a setback in their campaign. This loss extended their losing streak to one game, which is a stark contrast to Tulsa's current winning streak.
Historically, Tulsa has faced Rice twice this season, losing both encounters. The first meeting on January 1, 2025, ended with a score of 64-70, and the second on February 22, 2025, saw Rice triumph 71-50. This match was crucial for Tulsa, not only to break their losing streak against Rice but also to assert their dominance in the league.
In terms of the betting market, DraftKings set the spread at -12.5 in favor of Tulsa, with a total set at 152.5. The odds for Tulsa to win outright were listed at -950, while Rice's odds stood at +625, reflecting the disparity in their recent performances and overall records.
The game conditions were favorable for Tulsa, playing at home in front of a supportive crowd, which likely contributed to their high-scoring output. The atmosphere at the Reynolds Center was electric, as fans rallied behind their team, further motivating the players.
Key moments in the game included a series of impressive scoring plays from Tulsa, such as a 25-foot three-point jumper by David Green and a spectacular alley-oop dunk by Romad Dean. These highlights underscored Tulsa's offensive capabilities and their ability to capitalize on Rice's defensive lapses.
Overall, this match served as a testament to Tulsa's strength in the NCAAB landscape, while also highlighting the challenges faced by Rice as they continue to seek consistency in their performances.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | TLSA -12.5 | 152.5 o -110 / u -110 | Rice Owls +625 · Tulsa Golden Hurricane -950 |
Leaders
- PointsJaylen Lawal25Tulsa Golden Hurricane
- AssistsAde Popoola6Tulsa Golden Hurricane
- ReboundsDavid Green9Tulsa Golden Hurricane
- PointsNick Anderson17Rice Owls
- AssistsDallas Hobbs2Rice Owls
- ReboundsTrae Broadnax5Rice Owls
Recent form
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Last 10: 9-1Streak W989.2 scored · 72.4 allowed per game6-0 at home
- W90-85vs Denver PioneersDec 22
- W82-81at Western Kentucky HilltoppersDec 20
- W83-70at New Mexico State AggiesDec 13
- W117-84vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden LionsDec 11
- W98-74vs Missouri State BearsDec 6
- W111-60vs Manhattan Christian ThunderDec 3
- W63-60vs Northern Iowa PanthersNov 26
- W81-51at San José State SpartansNov 25
- W84-75vs Austin Peay GovernorsNov 22
- L83-84at Kansas State WildcatsNov 18
Rice Owls
Last 10: 5-5Streak L174.9 scored · 75.3 allowed per game0-4 away
- L62-84at Pepperdine WavesDec 21
- W94-47vs Southwestern Christian U EaglesDec 17
- W77-76vs Arkansas State Red WolvesDec 13
- W77-72vs Texas State BobcatsDec 4
- W81-62vs Oral Roberts Golden EaglesNov 26
- L63-78at Florida Gulf Coast EaglesNov 26
- L84-89at Kennesaw State OwlsNov 24
- L74-90vs Tarleton State TexansNov 21
- L66-91at Tennessee VolunteersNov 18
- W71-64vs East Texas A&M LionsNov 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida | 25-9 | - | 15-3 |
| Tulsa | 30-8 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Wichita State | 24-12 | 2 | 13-5 |
| UAB | 20-12 | 4 | 11-7 |
| North Texas | 19-14 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Florida Atlantic | 18-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Charlotte | 17-17 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Tulane | 18-15 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Temple | 16-16 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Memphis | 13-19 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Rice | 13-18 | 8 | 7-11 |
| East Carolina | 11-20 | 9 | 6-12 |
| UTSA | 5-25 | 14 | 1-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Rice Owls | Tulsa Golden Hurricane |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 16-57 | 37-60 |
| Field goal % | 28 | 62 |
| Three-pointers | 6-27 | 13-19 |
| Three-point % | 22 | 68 |
| Free throws | 10-17 | 10-12 |
| Free throw % | 59 | 83 |
| Rebounds | 26 | 43 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 14 | 32 |
| Assists | 5 | 19 |
| Steals | 9 | 9 |
| Blocks | 7 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 23 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 28 |
| Points in the paint | 18 | 48 |
| Fouls | 16 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 49 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half27-43David Green makes 5-foot dunk (Ade Popoola assists)
- 2nd Half29-43Cam Carroll makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half29-45Tyler Behrend makes layup (Ade Popoola assists)
- 2nd Half32-45Trae Broadnax makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dallas Hobbs assists)
- 2nd Half33-45Jordan Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-45Stephen Giwa makes layup (Dallas Hobbs assists)
- 2nd Half35-48Jaylen Lawal makes 28-foot three point jumper (Miles Barnstable assists)
- 2nd Half35-50Myles Rigsby makes layup (Ade Popoola assists)
- 2nd Half35-53Jaylen Lawal makes 25-foot three point jumper (Myles Rigsby assists)
- 2nd Half35-55Jaylen Lawal makes layup (Ian Smikle assists)
- 2nd Half36-55Nick Anderson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-58Jaylen Lawal makes 30-foot three point jumper (Ade Popoola assists)
- 2nd Half38-58Nick Anderson makes layup
- 2nd Half39-58Nick Anderson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half39-61Ade Popoola makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Lawal assists)
- 2nd Half39-63Jaylen Lawal makes layup
- 2nd Half39-64Jaylen Lawal makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half41-64Cam Carroll makes layup
- 2nd Half42-64Cam Carroll makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half43-64Stephen Giwa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-67Miles Barnstable makes 25-foot three point jumper (KJ Martin Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half44-67Jalen Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-70Jaylen Lawal makes 26-foot three point jumper (David Green assists)
- 2nd Half44-72Tylen Riley makes layup
- 2nd Half44-73Tylen Riley makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half44-75David Green makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-77Jaylen Lawal makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half44-79Jaylen Lawal makes layup (David Green assists)
- 2nd Half46-79Nick Anderson makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half46-81Tylen Riley makes layup
- 2nd Half46-83Miles Barnstable makes layup
- 2nd Half46-85Miles Barnstable makes layup (Tylen Riley assists)
- 2nd Half46-88David Green makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Lawal assists)
- 2nd Half46-89Myles Rigsby makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-90Myles Rigsby makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-92Romad Dean makes 5-foot alley oop dunk (Jaylen Lawal assists)
- 2nd Half48-92Jordan Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half48-93KJ Martin Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-94KJ Martin Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-97Leon Sifferlin makes 24-foot three point jumper (KJ Martin Jr. assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Tulsa Golden Hurricane, below favours Rice Owls.
Venue
- Reynolds CenterTulsa, OK
- Attendance3306
- OfficialsPatrick Evans, Owen Shortt, K.B. Burdett Jr.
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond