Cairo Santos' 27-yard FG as time expires lifts Tulane over North Texas 24-21

NEW ORLEANS – Cairo Santos kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to lift Tulane over North Texas 24-21 in a Conference USA showdown.

Tulane (4-2, 2-0) registered the school's 500th win in the process.

Nick Montana tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Justyn Shackleford in the first quarter for the Green Wave's only offensive touchdown of the game. Tulane benefited from a 62-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown by Derrick Strozier -- the first time in school history for such an event -- and Lorenzo Doss' 59-yard interception return for a score in the third quarter.

The Mean Green's Derek Thompson connected with Brandin Byrd for a 1-yard score and Darnell Smith on a 62-yard bomb as North Texas (2-3, 0-1) used two fourth quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 21 with 3:45 left, which ultimately only served to set up Santos' heroics.