Griffin’s 5 TDs propel Tulane past UAB 55-45

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ryan Griffin threw for 466 yards and five touchdowns Saturday as Tulane defeated Alabama-Birmingham 55-45 in Conference USA play.

Griffin, who missed three weeks because of a shoulder injury, has topped 300 passing yards in Tulane’s last three games. He has completed 79 of 118 passes, for 10 touchdowns and one interception during that span.

Griffin’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Rush broke a 7-7 first-quarter tie and the Green Wave (2-6, 2-2) quickly extended that lead to 21-7 behind Griffin’s 61-yarder to Ryan Grant.

Grant hauled in his second touchdown catch of the day, this time an 8-yarder, to give Tulane a 31-10 halftime lead.

Grant finished with 184 receiving yards on six catches while Rush caught eight passes for 126 yards.

UAB (1-7, 0-4) cut the deficit to 45-38 in the fourth quarter but Cairo Santos converted his second field goal of the game to seal the victory.