Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane Prediction, 3/17/2026 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Location: Reynolds Center in Tulsa, OK

TV: ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: Stephen F. Austin (+7)

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (28-5) are hitting the road to Reynolds Center on Tuesday where they will compete against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (26-7) in the 1st round of the NIT. Stephen F. Austin opens this game as 7-point underdogs from Vegas oddsmakers. The betting total is set at 153.

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks faced McNeese State and took a loss by a final of 76-59 in their last game. Stephen F. Austin wrapped up the game with a 37.3% FG percentage (19 out of 51) and made 5 out of their 21 shots from 3-point land. At the charity stripe, the Lumberjacks knocked down 16 of their 19 shots for a percentage of 84.2%. In terms of pulling down rebounds, they earned a total of 24 with 7 of them being of the offensive variety. They also doled out 10 assists for this contest while creating 10 turnovers and having 5 steals. Regarding defending, Stephen F. Austin allowed the other team to shoot 51.9% from the floor on 28 of 54 shooting. McNeese State dished out 14 assists and had 9 steals for the game. Additionally, McNeese State grabbed 34 rebounds (8 offensive, 26 defensive), but wasn't able to put a block in the stat sheet. McNeese State finished the game shooting 91.7% from the free throw line by burying 11 of their 12 shots. They buried 9 of 18 attempts from beyond the arc. In relation to personal fouls, the Lumberjacks ended up with 11 and McNeese State accounted for 13 personal fouls.

Keon Thompson is one guy who was a major contributor for this game. He accounted for 18 points on 7 of 17 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 29 mins played and totaled 3 rebounds. He walked away from this one shooting 41.2% from the floor and dished out 3 dimes.

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Stephen F. Austin will play this game with a win-loss record of 28-5 so far this year. They are averaging 76.4 pts per game (162nd in college) while hitting 44.9% from the field. The Lumberjacks are shooting 36.3% on three-point shots (292 of 805) and 68.1% from the free throw line. As a unit, Stephen F. Austin is collecting 37.3 rebounds per contest and has accounted for 452 dimes for the season, which is 172nd in the country in terms of passing the rock. They turn the ball over 9.2 times per game and as a squad they are committing 15.8 fouls per game.

On defense, the Lumberjacks are forcing their opponents into 11.8 turnovers on a nightly basis while drawing 15.2 fouls. They surrender 30.0% on 3-point shots and they rank 16th in D-1 in opponents points per game (65.9). The Lumberjacks defense is giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 42.4% (791 of 1,865) and they concede 33.1 rebounds per contest as a team. They rank 33rd in college in allowing assists to the opposition with 366 surrendered on the season.

When they last stepped on the court, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane took a loss by a score of 81-68 when they faced Wichita State. The Golden Hurricane earned 36 defensive boards and 10 offensive boards for a total of 46 in the matchup. They coughed it up 17 times, while getting 7 steals in this contest. Wichita State was called for 24 personal fouls for the contest which got the Golden Hurricane to the free throw line for a total of 15 tries. They were able to convert 10 of the free throws for a percentage of 66.7%. In terms of shooting from distance, Tulsa buried 12 of their 31 tries (38.7%). At the conclusion of this game, the Golden Hurricane finished the game shooting 23 out of 63 from the floor which gave them a rate of 36.5%. The Golden Hurricane permitted Wichita State to convert 28 of 59 attempts from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 47.5% in this contest. They finished 46.2% from beyond the arc by connecting on 12 of 26 and ended up going 13 of 18 from the charity stripe (72.2%). In relation to attacking the glass, Tulsa permitted Wichita State to grab 41 in total (9 offensive).

Tylen Riley was important for the Golden Hurricane in the matchup. He buried 6 of 15 in this game for a rate of 40.0%, and tallied 4 rebounds. He accumulated 18 points in his 33 mins of playing time and tallied 5 dimes in the matchup.

Tulsa has a mark of 26-7 on the campaign. As an offense, the Golden Hurricane are connecting on 47.7% from the floor, which is 45th in the nation. Tulsa has scored 2,824 pts for the campaign (85.6 per contest) and they grab 38.0 boards per contest. Their rate of earning assists is at 15.6 times per contest (84th in the country) and they turn the ball over 10.5 times per contest. The Golden Hurricane have committed 16.1 fouls per contest and they hit 78.1% from the charity stripe.

The Tulsa defense gives up 32.8% on 3-pointers (266 of 810) and their opponents are converting on 72.1% of their free throw attempts. They have surrendered 12.7 assists and 32.6 rebounds per contest, ranking them 126th and 73rd in those categories. The Golden Hurricane defensively are ranked 153rd in Division 1 in points per game surrendered with 73.0. They are forcing 10.7 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 42.5% from the field (86th in college).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Stephen F. Austin (+7)

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