BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — No. 9 Tulane defeated No. 8 Memphis, 81–69, in the first round of the 2026 American Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday evening at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
With the win, the Green Wave (17–14) advance to face No. 5 Charlotte in the second round on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
 
With four minutes remaining in the first half, the Green Wave used a 10–4 run to take a 39–31 lead into halftime, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Luke Rasmussen. Tulane shot 43.8 percent from behind the arc in the first half (7-of-16), while Memphis connected on just two of its eight attempts (25 percent).
 
The Tigers went without a field goal for two separate six-minute stretches in the second half, during which the Green Wave extended their lead to as many as 18 points.
 
Rowan Brumbaugh led all scorers with 35 points, including 25 in the second half—two shy of the American Basketball Championship single-game record of 27 (Russ Smith, Louisville vs. Houston, 2014). Curtis Williams Jr. added 11 points.
 
Four Tigers scored in double figures: Julius Thedford (13), Zach Davis (12), Dug McDaniel (11), and Curtis Givens III (10).