Kendall Timmons scored 25 points and Jordan Callahan added 21 to lead Tulane over Houston 80-77, snapping a 12-game skid, on Wednesday night.
The Green Wave (13-15, 3-12 Conference USA), who shot just 37.1 percent in the first half (13 of 35), trailed 34-29 at halftime.
Ahead 39-31 with 18:47 to play, the Cougars (12-16, 4-11) turned the ball over three times, leading to six straight Tulane points.
The Green Wave pulled within one, 52-51, with 9:15 to play, and went on a 16-4 run. David Booker's layup capped the spurt with Tulane ahead 67-56 with 5:04 remaining. The Green Wave led the rest of the way.
Tulane was 16 for 31, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range, in the second half.
Callahan had a career-high 12 assists as Tulane finished with 19. The Green Wave scored 27 points off 23 turnovers.
Maurice McNeil had 21 points and Zamal Nixon 20 for Houston.
