To overtime it went. 

It’s dumbfounding that the Tigers’ 74-67 win at Tulane Saturday did. 

Even Memphis coach Penny Hardaway couldn’t believe it. 

Sophomore Tyler Harris buried the go-ahead 3-pointer from the corner with 14 seconds remaining. The play was run to perfection to get Harris a wide-open look that he drilled while nervously thinking, “Oh, I got to hit this or it’s the end of the world.”

The world is safe. The game was not. 

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A controversial goaltending call against freshman Precious Achiuwa (a moment that felt like deja vu for Memphis after similar misfortune at SMU) tied the game 12 seconds later.

That was only two seconds before another perfectly-run final play – titled “Parking Lot” – ended with Achiuwa’s game-winning layup attempt going in and then out. 

“From our view it looked like it was going in,” Hardaway said. “I was behind the bench because Damion Baugh (the inbounder) was right there. So I was standing behind in the stands to make sure that he could get the pass off.”

The pass was flawless. The shot not so much. 

So, to overtime it went, incredibly. 

“All it took was some execution,” Hardaway said. “A couple of stops and some free throws and we win the game.”

But the Tigers would survive from there, outscoring Tulane 14-7 in the final segment to close out a win. 

With it, Hardaway and Memphis would likely tell the NCAA Tournament selection committee, “NOTHING TO SEE HERE!” But it was a disaster averted. 

The stress that fans felt during the roller coaster ride, Hardaway felt it too. 

“I’m the same way,” Hardaway said. “There’s something inside me that jumps out of me like a cartoon screaming with its mouth open wide.” 

Against an opponent with just four conference wins – driven by coach Ron Hunter’s promise to simply keep games competitive – Saturday was not only a massive exhale for Hardaway but also a look of modest satisfaction.

The Tigers did what they were supposed to do against the lowly Green Wave. They won a basketball game – an outcome that cannot be assumed this season. See: Memphis vs. Georgia, Memphis vs. South Florida, Memphis vs. Tulsa and Memphis vs. SMU I and II.

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Because Saturday’s trip to New Orleans for the Tigers was more about avoiding a horrible loss than it was stacking another victory. Tulane was the final remaining Quadrant 3 opponent on the regular-season schedule for Memphis and another opportunity to have a hole poked through an already flawed, crumpled postseason resume.

“At this point (style points) don’t really matter,” Achiuwa said. “As long as we win, man.”

The concern faded as Memphis took control of the overtime period, but not before an eye-opening reminder that when it comes to this Memphis team, almost nothing can be easy. It’s part of what accompanies an offense ranked 207th in efficiency.

It was feast or famine for the first 10 minutes. Every shot the Tigers made (6) over that span was accompanied by at least one turnover (8). Statistically, the miscues were the only reason it wasn’t a blowout by halftime.

At the break, Memphis forward Precious Achiuwa had already secured his 16th double-double of the season and had just two fewer rebounds than the Green Wave collectively. The Tigers shot a higher percentage over that stretch, dominated the glass, shot more free throws, dished more assists and blocked more shots.

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But those turnovers. Those dastardly turnovers. They were crushing.

Memphis had 13 giveaways in the first 20 minutes, seven that resulted in Tulane steals, which translated to 16 Green Wave points. They went on to finish with 24.

“We are still giving up 15 or 16 offensive rebounds per game and committing 24 turnovers,” Hardaway said. “The math on that says we lose, but some kind of way we find a way to make it happen. It’s just the weird science of Memphis basketball.”

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Shortly after the second half began, Tulane evened the contest at 31, then again at 42, and sure enough the Tigers found themselves trying to stay afloat in final 10 minutes despite mistake after mistake.

Luckily for Memphis, its overwhelming talent advantage was just enough to mask its poor (and at times abysmal) play.

That showed most in Achiuwa, who amassed 22 points and 22 rebounds in 40 minutes, enough to lead all scorers. 

“Last year Jeremiah (Martin) averaging 30 points per game in February was amazing,” Hardaway said. “This is on that level. (Achiuwa’s) type of game.”

Harris also finished with 12 points and Boogie Ellis added 11. 

In the overtime period Memphis made just one field goal but converted on 12 of 14 free throw attempts.

“It was just a great feeling,” Harris said. “We lost the last game. We’ve lost a lot of games this year on the road. It’s always good to get a win.” 

The Tigers’ already-slim NCAA Tournament hopes live to see another day. 

“With us losing at SMU, I think they had us (next four out) or whatever it was,” Hardaway said. “This at least puts us back in the conversation to go back home and play a good Wichita State team that’s in (the tournament) and then end the season at Houston. These two games are the games we need to end the season with to give ourselves an opportunity.”