Brumbaugh Leads Green Wave to First Round Victory Over Memphis

Tulane's Brumbaugh ends Memphis' nightmare season with dominant performance

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Tulane University's Green Wave defeated the University of Memphis Tigers in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament, bringing an end to Memphis' disastrous 2026 season. Tulane's star player, Brumbaugh, led the charge with a standout performance that propelled his team to victory.

Why it matters

Memphis had high expectations coming into the season but struggled mightily, leading to the dismissal of their head coach. Tulane's win over their in-state rival represents a major upset and a disappointing end to Memphis' campaign.

The details

Brumbaugh, Tulane's leading scorer, poured in 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to power the Green Wave to the first-round win. Memphis, which had been ranked in the preseason Top 25, never found its footing and trailed by double digits for much of the game.

  • The game was played on March 12, 2026.

The players

Brumbaugh

The star player for Tulane University's Green Wave basketball team, leading them to victory over in-state rival Memphis.

University of Memphis Tigers

The men's basketball team from the University of Memphis, which had high preseason expectations but struggled through a disastrous 2026 season.

Tulane University Green Wave

The men's basketball team from Tulane University, which pulled off an upset victory over the University of Memphis in the first round of the 2026 NCAA tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Memphis was going to be a tough opponent, but our guys really stepped up and played their hearts out. I'm proud of the way Brumbaugh led us to this victory.”

— Mike Dunleavy, Head Coach, Tulane University Green Wave (on3.com)

What’s next

Tulane will advance to face the #1 seed in the next round of the NCAA tournament.

The takeaway

Tulane's upset victory over Memphis serves as a disappointing end to the Tigers' disastrous season, while providing the Green Wave with a major postseason win and a chance to continue their tournament run.