BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — In a marathon contest that stretched the limits of endurance and will, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane outlasted the North Texas Mean Green 90-84 in a triple-overtime thriller in an American Athletic Conference tournament semifinal on Friday afternoon at Legacy Arena.

The game, a monumental struggle lasting over 55 minutes of court time, was ultimately decided by Tulsa’s superior execution in the final extra period after the two teams battled through two previous overtimes locked in a tense stalemate.

North Texas, the visiting team, controlled the action early, racing out to a commanding lead with a 16-0 run to start the game. The Mean Green’s defense stifled Tulsa into repeated misses and turnovers, building a 36-25 advantage by halftime. The Golden Hurricane looked out of sorts, unable to find any offensive rhythm against a swarming North Texas defense.

The second half witnessed a dramatic and complete reversal. Tulsa, led by the relentless scoring of guard Tylen Riley, mounted a furious comeback. The Golden Hurricane chipped away at the deficit throughout the period, leveraging a 44-point second-half outburst to erase the Mean Green’s once-comfortable lead. The period culminated in a frantic final minute where North Texas’ Je’Shawn Stevenson hit a driving layup with eight seconds remaining to tie the game at 69 and force the first overtime.

The first overtime was a defensive grind, with both teams managing only four points each. The second overtime mirrored the first, with each squad adding six points to leave the score knotted at 79, setting the stage for a third and decisive period.

The third overtime belonged to Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane finally found separation, outscoring a visibly fatigued North Texas squad 11-5. Riley, who finished with a game-high 26 points, was instrumental, drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line. Key contributions came across the board, with Ade Popoola and David Green each adding 15 points, and Tyler Behrend’s clutch free throws in the final seconds sealing the victory.

For North Texas, the loss was a crushing end to a valiant effort. Stevenson led the Mean Green with 21 points, while David Terrell added 17 and Cole Franklin scored 15. The team’s depth was tested as key players fouled out in the extended play, and their offensive output dwindled to just five points in the final overtime.

The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly Tulsa’s second-half resurgence. After being thoroughly dominated for the first 20 minutes, the Golden Hurricane adjusted, increased their defensive pressure, and rode the hot hand of Riley to completely flip the script. Without that sustained rally, the epic overtimes would never have occurred. Their ability to recover from a disastrous start and methodically work their way back into the game provided the foundation for their eventual triumph in the third overtime.

Tulsa improved to 26-6 overall and advanced to the conference tournament championship game. North Texas, which had won its previous three games, saw its season end with a 19-14 record. The Golden Hurricane, who were pregame favorites, covered the spread as the total score soared well past the over/under line in a game that far exceeded expectations for drama and endurance.