NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless offense and a dramatic final-minute collapse, the Memphis Tigers escaped Devlin Fieldhouse with a 96-95 overtime victory over the Tulane Green Wave in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball thriller on Sunday.

The contest, witnessed by 1,731 fans, was a stark contrast to the defensive struggle anticipated by oddsmakers, as both teams combined for 191 points, far surpassing the over/under line of 150.5. It was a back-and-forth affair that required an extra period to decide, with Memphis narrowly overcoming a late-game meltdown to snap a three-game losing streak.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final seconds of regulation. Tulane, trailing 81-79, saw its star guard Rowan Brumbaugh convert a driving layup and a subsequent free throw after being fouled with 47 seconds remaining, giving the Green Wave an 82-81 lead. Memphis then turned the ball over on its next possession, and Brumbaugh struck again, hitting a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to push Tulane’s lead to 85-81.

Memphis clawed back with a free throw from Thierno Sylla, cutting the deficit to three. After a missed Tulane opportunity, the Tigers’ Zach Davis converted a driving layup with 22 seconds left, making it 85-84. Tulane’s Curtis Williams then turned the ball over, and Davis came up with a crucial steal. Davis immediately drove for another layup, putting Memphis back ahead 86-85 with just 16 seconds on the clock.

Tulane responded swiftly, as Brumbaugh raced downcourt and hit a jump shot off the fast break to reclaim a 87-86 lead with only 11 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Memphis guard Quante Berry was fouled on a shot attempt with two seconds left. Berry calmly sank both free throws, putting Memphis up 88-87. Tulane’s final heave from three-point range by Brumbaugh missed as time expired, forcing overtime.

In the extra period, Memphis never trailed. The Tigers built a five-point cushion and, despite Tulane pulling within one point on multiple occasions, secured the win at the free-throw line. Berry was fouled with two seconds left in overtime and made both shots to provide the final margin of victory, as Tulane’s last-second three-point attempt was off the mark.

The game was a showcase for backcourt talent. Tulane’s Rowan Brumbaugh delivered a heroic performance in a losing effort, scoring a game-high 31 points in 43 minutes, including several clutch baskets to force overtime. His backcourt mate, Asher Woods, added 21 points. For Memphis, point guard Dug McDaniel orchestrated the offense with 20 points and six assists, while Quante Berry led the Tigers with 22 points, including the decisive free throws at the end of both regulation and overtime.

Memphis improved its record to 13-18 overall, while Tulane fell to 16-14. The Tigers’ victory avenged a 78-76 home loss to the Green Wave just over a month prior on Feb. 1.

Statistically, the game was a tale of efficiency and mistakes. Memphis shot 51.6% from the field and won despite committing 13 turnovers to Tulane’s seven. The Green Wave capitalized on those mistakes, registering 12 steals. Tulane shot 49.3% from the floor and dished out 12 assists. A key disparity came at the free-throw line, where Memphis attempted 36 free throws, making 25, compared to Tulane’s 18 attempts and 14 makes. Memphis also dominated the interior defense, recording six blocks to Tulane’s two, with Sylla contributing three of those.

The first half set the stage for the shootout, with Tulane taking a 40-31 lead into the break behind hot shooting from Tyler Ringgold, who had 16 points by halftime. Memphis responded with a 50-point second-half outburst, fueled by McDaniel and Berry, to set the stage for the frantic finish.

The win provides a positive end to the regular season for Memphis, which had lost its previous three games. Tulane, meanwhile, sees its hopes for a stronger conference tournament seeding dampened by the narrow defeat in a game it led for significant stretches and had multiple chances to win in the closing moments.