Tulsa Routs Ottawa 98-50 in Opener
Tulsa opened its season with a 98-50 win over Ottawa (Kansas) on Monday night.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Tulsa defeated Ottawa (Kansas) 98-50 in its season opener on Monday night. The Golden Hurricane's balanced scoring and perimeter shooting carried the game, which Tulsa led throughout.
Why it matters
The lopsided opening result gives Tulsa an early statistical baseline for its new season. The win also sets up a home matchup against Northern Illinois later this week.
Lawal led Tulsa with 17 points and four steals, while Kobi Williams hit 4 of 7 from deep for 12 points. Forsythe added 12 points, going 3 of 4 from three-point range and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line.
The players
Jaylen Lawal
Jaylen Lawal is a Tulsa guard who led the Golden Hurricane with 17 points and four steals in the season opener.
Kobi Williams
Kobi Williams is a Tulsa guard who scored 12 points and shot 4 of 7 from three-point range in the opener.
Denton Forsythe
Denton Forsythe is a Tulsa player who scored 12 points and went 3 of 4 from three-point range and from the free-throw line.
The details
Tulsa built a lead early and extended it throughout the game, holding Ottawa to 50 points. Several Golden Hurricane players contributed double-digit scoring, while Ottawa's offense was led by Olmstead's nine points and three steals.
Timeline
Monday night: Tulsa defeats Ottawa 98-50 in its season opener.
Thursday: Tulsa hosts Northern Illinois in its next game.
Season Trajectory
A 48-point season-opening margin gives Tulsa an early marker in a new campaign, though a single nonconference result offers limited evidence about its eventual standing. The stub does not provide conference standings or prior-season comparisons to place the win further.
Fantasy and bracket watchers can track Lawal's four steals and Williams' 4-of-7 three-point shooting as early indicators of rotation roles. Thursday's home game against Northern Illinois is the next opportunity to see whether this production holds.
The takeaway
A single opening game shows early roles and shooting touch, but a few more results will clarify whether Tulsa's balanced scoring is a pattern.
What happens next
Tulsa hosts Northern Illinois on Thursday, the team's next scheduled game.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Basketball coverage in Tulsa.
