Tulane men’s basketball (16-10, 7-6) stormed back to erase a 15-point second half deficit to defeat North Texas (15-12, 6-8) 77-71 on the road Thursday night. The Green Wave closed on an 8-0 run to secure the win that was highlighted by the go-ahead put-back layup from Tyler Ringgold with 1:33 to play.
With the victory, the Wave claimed a season split against the Mean Green and snapped a five-game losing streak against North Texas. The win was the first for Tulane over North Texas since 2014 when the Green Wave twice over the Mean Green including its last victory in Denton, Texas, on January 11. Tulane also improved to 6-2 on the road this season including a 5-2 mark in league play.
Five players scored double figures for just the third time this season for the Wave. Rowan Brumbaugh led the team with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He was followed by Asher Woods who posted 16 points including four crucial points in the final minute to help close the game.
The next trio to reach double digits in the scoring column were Scotty Middleton, Ringgold, and Curtis Williams Jr. Middleton finished with 15 points, including four made threes, and a team-high six rebounds. Ringgold filled his stats sheet with 12 points to go with five boards, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. Williams rounded out the leaders for Tulane with 11 points, including the game-tying bucket with 2:21 remaining, three steals, and two blocks.
The Green Wave started on the attack against the Mean Green building an early eight-point advantage (13-5) with 15:28 on the clock. North Texas settled in and began to fight back over the next several minutes as the two teams traded the lead five times.
In the final eight minutes of the first half the Mean Green jumped in front with a 15-9 run that put the Wave behind 31-38 with 1:11 to play in the frame. Ringgold converted an and-one in the final minute to send Tulane into the locker room facing a 34-38 deficit.
The battle stayed tight in the first few moments of the second half until North Texas mounted a 15-2 to take its largest lead of the night 59-44 with 11:33 remaining. However, the Green Wave did not back down from the fight.
Tulane slowly chipped away at the deficit until eventually tying the game at 65-65 on back-to-back three-pointers from Middleton and Woods. North Texas briefly pulled back in front by two a pair of time over the next few minutes, but each time the Green Wave answered to tie the game.
With the Wave facing a 69-71 deficit with 2:46 remaining, Williams sparked the closing 8-0 run for Tulane with a baseline floater to tie the game. On the next possession for the Green Wave Ringgold put Tulane in front 73-71 with a put-back layup with 1:33 to play. Woods stepped up as the closer for the Wave in the final minute scoring the last four points of the night to secure the 77-71 comeback victory for Tulane.
Next, the Tulane returns home to host Rice on Sunday, February 22. Tipoff between the Green Wave and the Owls is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
