Wave Loses Heartbreaker in Overtime to Memphis

Sunday, March 8

NEW ORLEANS

1 p.m.

Tulane University

17-14,8-10American

Memphis

13-18,8-10American

OT 1

Memphis

Tulane

Wave Loses Heartbreaker in Overtime to Memphis

Mar 8, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane men's basketball (17-14, 8-10) erased a nine-point deficit in the final 2:27 of regulation to force overtime but ultimately suffered a heartbreaking defeat 96-95 on a pair of Memphis (13-18, 8-10) free throws in the final seconds of the extra period. With the loss the Green Wave finished the regular season as the nine seed in the American Conference and will face the Tigers for a third time this season in the conference tournament on Wednesday, March 11.

As a team, the Wave connected at 49.3 percent clip from the field and knocked down nine three-pointers in the Senior Day showdown. The 95 points scored by Tulane was a season-high eclipsing the 93-point effort by the Green Wave in an overtime victory over Boston College on November 23, 2025. Tulane tallied 44 points in the paint in the contest which marked its highest total in conference play and the second most this season behind 48 also against Boston College.

Five players finished with double figures in scoring for the Wave for the fourth time this season. Rowan Brumbaugh led all players with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting including four made threes. The performance marked the third time this season Brumbaugh has scored more than 30 points and ninth game with at least 20 points. The redshirt junior also added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals to his stat sheet.

Asher Woods totaled 21 points to go with three assists and a career-high four steals in his final home game for the Green Wave. Woods' performance marked his fourth game this season with at least 20 points and the 15th of his career.

The final three players to score double digits for Tulane were Tyler Ringgold, Curtis Williams Jr., and KJ Greene. Ringgold finished with 16 points and a pair of steals while Williams posted his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Greene added 10 points and three assists off the bench.

Tulane claimed the initial advantage as the game got underway and maintained its lead through the first 10-plus minutes of the opening frame. The Green Wave eventually held a 17-12 lead with 12:42 on the clock before Memphis battled back with five-straight points to tie the game with 9:38 to play.

After the Tigers tied the game, the Wave responded with a 23-12 scoring run to build its largest advantage of the day at 40-29 with 1:02 remaining in the first half. Tulane went on to hold a 40-31 lead at the break after Memphis hit a pair of free throws in the final minute.

The Tigers made the first push of the second half pulling the game back to a tie at 44-44 just under four minutes into the frame. Tulane faced its first deficit of the day with 13:54 to play in the second half after a Curtis Givens III three put the Wave down 48-51.

Tulane reclaimed the lead briefly at 60-59 on a three-pointer by Williams with 10:03 on the clock, but Memphis quickly responded to pull back in front. Facing its largest deficit of the day at 69-78 with 2:27 remaining the Green Wave battled to climb back into the contest with a 10-3 run to pull within two with 22 seconds left. Greene tied the game with a layup down the right side of the lane with 13 seconds to play and Tulane got one more stop to send the game to overtime tied 81-81.

In the extra period the Wave quickly jumped out to a six-point lead before Memphis started fighting back through trips to the free throw line. After the Tigers took their first lead of overtime with 22 seconds left, Brumbaugh answered with a layup to put Tulane in front 95-94 with 16 seconds to play.

Unfortunately, Memphis earned another trip to the charity stripe and sank a pair of free throws with 2.3 second remaining to take the lead. Tulane got one final look on a halfcourt shot from Brumbaugh that narrowly missed resulting in the 95-96 loss for the Wave.

Next, the Green Wave will head to Birmingham, Alabama, as the nine seed in the American Conference Championship. Tulane will square off against Memphis as the eight seed for the third time this season in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday, March 11. Tipoff between Tulane and the Tigers is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPNEWS.

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