Tulsa Routs Northern Illinois 94-75
Northern Illinois fell to the Golden Hurricane in its second regular-season matchup despite a strong second-half push.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball
Northern Illinois University lost to the University of Tulsa 94-75 on Thursday in Tulsa. Tulsa led 56-29 at halftime after shooting 60% from the field and 53% from three-point range, and Northern Illinois outscored Tulsa 46-38 in the second half.
Why it matters
The loss extends the Huskies' early-season challenge on a road trip against a strong Tulsa team, and their first-half shooting struggles put them in a deep hole. For Illinois basketball fans, the game shows how quickly a first-half deficit can define a team's results.
Tulsa shot 60% from the field and 53% from three-point range in the first half, while Northern Illinois shot below 40% from the field. Jaylen Lawal led Northern Illinois with 16 points, and David Douglas Jr. added 21 and Max Weisbrod 20.
The players
Northern Illinois University
A public university in DeKalb, Illinois, whose athletic program competes in NCAA Division I as part of the Mid-American Conference.
University of Tulsa
A private research university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose athletic teams compete as the Golden Hurricane in the American Athletic Conference.
The details
Jaylen Lawal scored 11 points in the first three minutes, but Tulsa built a large first-half lead on efficient shooting. Northern Illinois cut into the deficit after halftime, outscoring Tulsa 46-38 in the second half, but could not overcome the gap. Tulsa had 12 players score by the end of the game.
Timeline
Thursday, November 6, 2026: Northern Illinois lost 94-75 to Tulsa.
Saturday: Northern Illinois plays the University of Dayton at 6 p.m. to conclude its road trip.
Season Trajectory
The loss leaves Northern Illinois with a difficult road trip to close the early schedule, and the Huskies will need a stronger first half against Dayton to keep pace in a competitive Mid-American Conference race. Tulsa's strong shooting marks the team as a contender in the American Athletic Conference's early standings.
Fantasy managers tracking Jaylen Lawal, David Douglas Jr., or Max Weisbrod will want to watch the rotation heading into Saturday's game at Dayton. Scoring production from the Huskies' top three players could determine whether this roadtrip ends with a win.
The takeaway
Early-season road losses often hinge on first-half defense, and Northern Illinois's struggles against Tulsa show how quickly a deficit can grow. Tracking how the Huskies respond after halftime against Dayton will reveal whether that second-half resilience can carry them through conference play.
What happens next
Northern Illinois plays the University of Dayton on Saturday at 6 p.m. to close its road trip.
Further reading
For more on the Huskies' season, see Illinois Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Northern Star.
