Tulsa racked up 663 total offensive yards, and the Golden Hurricane held on to defeat Arkansas State, 41-34, Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium. A crowd of 14,881 watched the Golden Hurricane get in the win column for the first time this season, as Tulsa improved to 1-3.

“I felt like we’ve taken some really positive steps in the weeks leading up to this one, but we needed to get over the hump,” said Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery after the game. “We talked about having to go and win. The first four minutes of the second half and in that fourth quarter, I think it really came down to that.”

Tulsa quarterback Davis Brin completed 17-of-25 passes for 355 yards, including a career-best three touchdowns. Montgomery said he’s happy with the progress he’s seen from his quarterback.

“I think more than anything with Davis, the steps that he’s taking right now, I mean, I think he’s really seeing the field extremely well,” Montgomery said. “I think he’s progressing through his coverage reads. He’s taking good snapshots of what’s happening and then delivering good strikes. You know, we’ll do a good job of keeping him upright and him doing a good job getting it out on time and not sitting and holding and waiting. But I think that guy is continuing to grow and get better, and I think our receivers and him are starting to really get a better connection between them.”

Speaking of receivers, Josh Johnson had his second straight 100-plus game with 127 yards on nine receptions. Sam Crawford Jr. had 105 yards on two catches, both for touchdowns, and JuanCarlos Santana caught five passes for 99 yards.

A pair of Tulsa running backs also broke the century mark; Shamari Brooks totaled 155 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries for his 13th career 100-plus rushing game, and Anthony Watkins rushed for his first career 100-plus game with 115 yards and one touchdown.

Tulsa had a 24-14 lead at halftime, but just two minutes into the third quarter extended the lead to 31-14. Arkansas State then scored 17 points in the third quarter, and after three quarters of play, Tulsa’s lead was down to seven, 38-31.

The game was iced for TU with a Zack Long 45-yard field goal with 11:21 remaining in the game.

“I think more than anything, seeing the guys after the game in the locker room, just understanding that, you know, we’ve put in a lot of work,” Montgomery said. “I think we’re a good football team. Now, we still got a lot of improving to do and correct some things. We got to do all of that. But you got to go out and you got to go make it happen, right? And it was good to see our guys step up and make that happen tonight. You got to taste it, you got to feel it, and you got to see it, and when you do that, you understand what it takes to finish. I thought our guys did a good job of that tonight.”

Things don’t get any easier for Tulsa this week, and Montgomery realizes it.

“Obviously, we’ve got a tough opponent in the short week next week, but that being said, it’s good to get that ‘W’ in the column and understanding how we have to play and what we need to do to make that happen,” he said.

Tulsa will continue a three-game homestand this Friday night as American Athletic Conference opponent Houston comes to H.A. Chapman Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. T

he game will air on ESPN.