MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dramatic and chaotic final minute, Rowan Brumbaugh’s driving layup with six seconds remaining lifted Tulane to a 78-76 victory over Memphis in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball thriller on Sunday at FedExForum.

The Green Wave, who led for nearly the entire contest, survived a furious second-half comeback by the Tigers and a series of critical plays in the waning moments to snap a three-game losing streak.

Tulane improved to 13-9 overall, while Memphis fell to 10-11. The result defied the pregame projections, as Memphis entered as a 9.5-point favorite with an 89 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system.

The game’s climax unfolded over the final 28 seconds. After Memphis forward Julius Thedford made two free throws to give the Tigers a 74-73 lead, Tulane’s Percy Daniels answered with a crucial tip-in off an Asher Woods miss and drew a foul. Daniels completed the three-point play at the line, putting Tulane back ahead 76-74 with 28 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, Memphis guard Dug McDaniel, who scored 13 points, drove and hit a pull-up jumper from the elbow, tying the game at 76 with 14 seconds on the clock. Tulane called no timeout, opting to push the ball upcourt. Brumbaugh, who finished with a game-high 27 points, took the inbounds pass, navigated a screen and attacked the right side of the lane, floating in the go-ahead basket over Memphis’s interior defense.

Memphis had one final chance, but McDaniel’s inbound pass was stolen by Tulane’s Tyler Ringgold, sealing the victory for the Green Wave as time expired.

The frantic finish capped a game of starkly contrasting halves. Tulane built its lead with efficient offense and disruptive defense in the first half, taking a 39-31 advantage into the break. The Green Wave shot 50 percent from the field in the opening period and connected on 6 of 13 three-point attempts, while Memphis struggled mightily, shooting just 20.7 percent overall and missing all nine of its three-point tries.

Brumbaugh and backcourt mate Asher Woods, who added 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, spearheaded the early attack. Memphis stayed within striking distance primarily through its work at the free-throw line, attempting 20 first-half foul shots.

The Tigers roared back in the second half, fueled by increased defensive pressure and dominance on the offensive glass. Memphis outscored Tulane 45-39 after halftime, shooting 45.2 percent from the field. The Tigers finished the game with a staggering 16 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points and helping offset a poor shooting afternoon overall. Memphis shot just 35.7 percent from the field and 20 percent from three-point range for the game.

Aaron Bradshaw was a force inside for Memphis, posting 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Julius Thedford added 12 points and five rebounds, and Quante Berry contributed 11 points off the bench.

Tulane’s victory was anchored by superior shot-making and ball security when it mattered most. The Green Wave finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. They also committed only 12 turnovers against Memphis’s active defense, which generated 10 steals. Tyler Ringgold scored 12 points for Tulane, and Curtis Williams grabbed seven rebounds.

Despite being out-rebounded 41-28 and attempting 12 fewer free throws than Memphis, Tulane’s offensive efficiency proved decisive. The Green Wave scored 1.125 points per possession compared to Memphis’s 1.101, a narrow but critical margin in a two-point game.

The win provides a significant boost for Tulane as it navigates the conference schedule, while Memphis is left to ponder another close loss in a season filled with them. An announced crowd of 9,320 watched the contest, which had a total score of 154, going over the pregame over/under line of 144.5.