(BCSNN) — Tulane raced to a 35-point first half and survived a furious fourth-quarter rally to defeat No. 22 Memphis 38–32 in a Friday night showdown at the Liberty Bowl, earning a pivotal American Conference victory in one of the season’s most electrifying games.

Quarterback Jake Retzlaff accounted for four touchdowns — three through the air and one on the ground — and sealed the win with a clutch third-down scramble in the final two minutes as Tulane (7–2, 4–1 American) handed Memphis (8–2, 4–2) its second conference loss.

Retzlaff opened the scoring with a 65-yard strike to Shazz Preston on the Green Wave’s first offensive play. After Memphis answered with a 55-yard touchdown from Brendon Lewis to Jamari Hawkins, Tulane responded with a Javin Gordon rushing score and never trailed again.

Retzlaff added a 33-yard touchdown run and connected with Anthony Brown-Stephens for a 54-yard score before finding Preston again for a five-yard touchdown to cap a five-touchdown first half. Tulane led 35–17 at the break and extended the lead to 38–17 with a Patrick Durkin field goal early in the third.

Memphis mounted a comeback in the fourth, scoring twice — including a Lewis-to-Brady Kluse touchdown — to cut the deficit to 38–32 with 7:49 remaining. But Tulane’s defense held firm, and Retzlaff’s late scramble on third down iced the game.

Preston finished with two touchdowns, Brown-Stephens added a long score, and Gordon provided balance on the ground. Tulane’s offense was explosive and efficient, while the defense made key stops in crunch time.

Next up for the Green Wave, Tulane will return home to host Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. ET. As for the Tigers, Memphis is back on the road next week when it travels to Greenville, N.C. to take on the ECU Pirates.