TULSA — Isaiah Brown-Murray made a game-deciding tackle on fourth-and-goal from the East Carolina 2-yard line as the Pirates achieved bowl eligibility with a 38-31 American Athletic Conference win at Tulsa on Thursday night.

The sophomore corner from Charlotte tripped up Benjamin Kamdyn short of the goal line with 34 seconds to go.

The running of Rahjai Harris was huge as the graduate back had 114 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. He had both of ECU’s fourth quarter scores as he broke free on jaunts of 23 and 24 yards to help the Pirates overcame a 31-24 deficit in the final period.

Harris atoned for a wildcat fumble that led to a 29-27 Tulsa win in Greenville to end the 2023 season.

“I’ve just got to give all the glory to God,” said Harris on the Pirate radio network. “Give all the glory to everybody in that locker room as well. We’ve been through so much adversity.

“Bouncing back in the fourth quarter means everything for the program.”

Katin Houser, whose passing was vital in ECU winning its two previous games, completed 24 of 37 for 314 yards with one TD and three interceptions.

The Pirates managed to put together their first 3-game winning streak since 2022 despite four turnovers and 125 yards in penalties, improving their record to 6-4 (4-2 AAC).

“Like I told the guys, it’s great to be bowl eligible, it’s great to win on the road in this conference, but we ain’t done yet,” said interim ECU coach Blake Harrell. “We’ve got work to clean up. … We found a way to pull it out at the end and win a football game.”

Tulsa freshman Joseph Williams snared a pass from Cooper Legas for a 50-yard touchdown and a 31-24 lead with 12:14 left to play. Williams had three scoring receptions as the Golden Hurricane slipped to 3-7 for the season and 1-5 in league play.

The Pirates closed within 31-30 on a 23-yard scoring run by Harris with 5:30 left. The extra point attempt by Andrew Conrad hit the right upright and was no good.

Harris bolted 24 yards to the end zone for a 36-31 Pirates lead with 2:07 left and fought through defenders for the 2-point conversion.

ECU had a 536-399 lead in total yards although premier receivers Chase Sowell and Winston Wright Jr. were sidelined during the contest before 17,979 at H.A. Chapman Stadium and a national television audience on ESPN.

London Montgomery’s 16-yard scoring run finished a 52-yard drive and gave ECU a 24-17 lead with 8:48 to go in the third quarter.

Seth Morgan missed a 47-yard field goal with 4:22 left in the third after Tulsa had taken possession on an interception by Buddha Garrett that created an opportunity at the ECU 15.

A personal foul penalty on the Pirates nullified a 71-yard scoring run by Harris.

ECU linebacker Zakye Barker was ejected for targeting with 3:08 left in the third quarter.

Williams caught his second TD pass from Legas for a tie at 24 with 1:15 remaining in the third. The fade route covered 14 yards.

The Golden Hurricane took the opening kickoff and moved 42 yards in nine plays for a 3-0 lead on a 47-yard field goal by Morgan with 11:21 left in the first quarter.

ECU went three and out on its first possession.  Luke Larsen’s 46-yard punt was returned 21 yards to the Pirates’ 47-yard line by Kamdyn. Tulsa got to the Pirates 6 before Andrew Wilson-Lamp forced a fumble by Kamdyn that was recovered for a touchback by Omar Rogers, who was in on nine tackles.

Houser hit Wright for a 4-yard touchdown as the Florida State transfer extended to the right pylon on a dive with 5:37 left in the first quarter. ECU went ahead, 7-3, with Conrad’s conversion kick. Houser had completions of 22 and 47 yards to Anthony Smith on the 5-play, 80-yard drive.

The Pirates got a stop on downs at their 36 and subsequently had first-and-goal at the Tulsa 1 after a 37-yard reception by Sowell. ECU lost yardage on a fumble and a penalty before a tipped Houser pass was picked off by Elijah Green with 11:36 left in the half. The Golden Hurricane took possession at its own 8.

Another three and out followed by a 59-yard punt by Angus Davies put the Pirates at their 32.

Houser had three completions for 34 yards and Marlon Gunn Jr. carried four times for 34 yards as the Pirates pushed the lead to 14-3 on a 1-yard run by Gunn with seven minutes left in the half.

ECU jumped offside twice on Tulsa’s ensuing series to give the hosts first downs. The Golden Hurricane pulled within 14-10 on a 39-yard pass from Legas to Williams with 1:51 left in the half.

A video review overturned an interception ruling on a Houser pass but a subsequent pick six by Keuan Parker that covered 30 yards gave Tulsa a 17-14 advantage with 1:32 remaining in the half.

Wright lost a fumble after a catch at the ECU 40, but the Pirates regained possession on an interception by Samuel Dankah. Houser directed a 38-yard drive to set up 52-yard field goal by Conrad that tied the score at 17 as the half ended.

“We’ve got that glue,” Harris said. “As long as we’ve got everybody on the same page, it’s fine. You’d think a team that’s been through what we’ve been through would just shut down. but we’ve got a different grit in us.

“We’ve got a different fire that’s burning and we’re ready to go.”

Next up for ECU is a game at North Texas on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+). The Mean Green (5-4, 2-3 AAC) plays at Texas San Antonio (4-6, 2-3) on Friday (8 p.m., ESPN2).