ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Riley Patterson's 26-yard field goal with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter stood up as the gamewinner as Memphis took a 10-7 win against Navy Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
 

The Tigers, who won in Annapolis for the first time in three road games against Navy, came out on top despite behing held to 280 yards of offense and 12 first downs in a defensive battle. Memphis limited the Midshipmen to 321 total yards and 14 first downs, holding Navy to 2-of-13 effectiveness on third down.

Memphis improved to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in American Athletic Conference play, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the conference championship game. The Tigers would earn the right to face Cincinnati for the conference title if they win their remaining two games (against Tulane and Houston) and Tulsa loses its last two games (against Navy and Cincinnati).

The teams were locked in a 7-7 deadlock for most of the game Saturday. Navy struck first when fullback Nelson Smith went up the middle for a 22-yard touchdown run after the Midshipmen had kept the drive alive on a 24-yard run by J'arius Warren out of a punt formation earlier in the possession.

The Tigers answered on their ensuing possession as Brady White hit Calvin Austin III for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:52 left in the first quarter.

Patterson's game-winning kick came early in the fourth after the Navy defense held on first-and-goal situation. 

Patterson had missed a 52-yard field goal in the second quarter, while Navy kicker Bijan Nichols was wide right from 45 yards out with 4:42 left in the fourth period in a bid to tie the game. The Tigers took the ensuing possesion to midfield on a four-minute, 30-second drive before Navy got the ball back with only 12 seconds remaining.

White went 18-for-32 for 205 yards and a touchdown for Memphis.

Smith finished with a game-high 142 rushing yards and a touchdown for Navy, which fell to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in The American.