BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Rowan Brumbaugh scored 35 points and Tulane avenged a heartbreaking overtime loss from just three days prior, leading wire-to-wire to eliminate Memphis 81-69 in the opening round of the American Athletic Conference tournament on Wednesday at Legacy Arena.

The eighth-seeded Green Wave (17-14) never trailed, building a double-digit lead in the first half and weathering several Memphis pushes in the second to advance. The ninth-seeded Tigers (13-19) saw their season end, unable to overcome a frigid shooting performance from beyond the arc.

The most critical sequence of the game came late in the first half, establishing a tone Tulane would not relinquish. After Memphis had trimmed an early deficit to 24-22 with 7:59 remaining, the Green Wave responded with a decisive 15-5 run to close the period. Brumbaugh was the catalyst, scoring seven points during the surge, including a driving layup and a pair of free throws. The run was capped by a Luke Rasmussen three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, sending Tulane into the break with a commanding 39-31 advantage. That cushion proved vital, as Memphis would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Brumbaugh, a guard from Washington, D.C., was spectacular, hitting 5 of 12 from three-point range and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line in 37 minutes. His 35-point outing followed a 31-point performance in Sunday’s 96-95 overtime loss to these same Tigers. He consistently answered Memphis rallies with timely baskets, ensuring the Green Wave maintained control.

The statistical story was written from the perimeter. Tulane shot 41.2% from three-point range, connecting on 14 of 34 attempts. Memphis, by stark contrast, managed only 5 makes on 22 attempts from deep, a 22.7% clip. That 27-point disparity from the three-point line was the decisive factor in a game where both teams made an identical 22 field goals overall.

Tulane also capitalized at the foul line, making 23 of 28 attempts, while Memphis went 20 for 29. The Green Wave’s offensive efficiency, scoring 81 points on 74 possessions for a rating of 109.0, outpaced a sluggish Memphis attack that posted a 92.3 rating.

Julius Thedford led Memphis with 13 points off the bench, while Zach Davis added 12 points and two blocks. Thierno Sylla, the Tigers’ 7-foot center from Guinea, was a defensive force with four blocks and nine points but was limited to 20 minutes due to foul trouble. Curtis Givens finished with 10 points for Memphis.

For Tulane, Curtis Williams scored 11 points, while Scotty Middleton, Tyler Ringgold, and Asher Woods each added nine. The Green Wave’s defense was active, forcing 12 Memphis turnovers and recording six steals.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Tulane and marked a measure of redemption after the bitter defeat on their home floor days earlier. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Memphis entered as a significant favorite with a 68.8% win probability and had been installed as a 4.5-point favorite pregame.

Tulane advances to face top-seeded Charlotte in the tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. Memphis concludes a difficult season with losses in eight of its final ten games.