Blake Harrell didn't have to sweat much in his first two games as East Carolina's interim head coach. His third outing and first on the road became a real test of nerves, but the Pirates gutted out a win to become bowl eligible.

ECU, playing its second straight nationally-televised Thursday night game, overcame a bevy of mistakes that included four turnovers, 12 penalties and a missed extra point to scrape by with an emotionally draining 38-31 win over Tulsa in a nearly four-hour tussle at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Isaiah Brown-Murray's tackle of Tulsa receiver Kamdyn Benjamin at the one with just 34 seconds to play ultimately sealed the win. Senior Rahjai Harris gave ECU the lead for good with a 24-yard run and added a two-point conversion to cap off his third 100-yard game this season and eighth of his career.

"What a night," said Harris, who finished with 114 yards on 18 carries and scored the Pirates' final two touchdowns. "I've just got to give all the glory to God, give all the glory to everybody in that locker room as well.

"We've been through so much adversity," Harris said. "Just seeing us going down in the fourth and bouncing back and getting this W, it means everything for the program, not just the football team but the program."

ECU displayed its resiliency after losing back-to-back road games to Charlotte and Army and the dismissal of head coach Mike Houston, routing Temple (56-34) and Florida Atlantic (49-14) before the home fans. Thursday's matchup presented a sterner test, facing a Tulsa team that owned four-straight wins in the series and playing before a sparse crowd.

The Pirates continued to rack up gaudy offensive numbers with 536 total yards, eclipsing 500 yards for the third time this season, but still had to scramble to survive a game with five lead changes and countless momentum shifts.

Harrell, for one, will not apologize for a "sloppy" win with his team now 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the American Athletic Conference.

"It's a W baby," he said. "It's a chance to get this team bowl eligible. I told the guys in the locker room, it's great to be bowl eligible, it's great to get a win on the road in this conference, but we ain't done yet. We've got work to do; we've got work to clean up."

Penalties and turnovers loom large and on Thursday repeatedly gave Tulsa (3-7, 1-5 AAC) life as it tried snap a three-game skid. On the heels of its first turnover-free game of the year, ECU coughed up one fumble and quarterback Katin Houser threw three interceptions.

Houser, who had consecutive games with five touchdown passes, completed 24 of 37 for 314 yards and one score.

Among ECU's penalties were five 15-yard infractions in the third quarter, including a personal foul that wiped out a 71-yard touchdown run by Harris and a targeting penalty that ended the night for Zakye Barker.

Harris, who had just one yard on two carries in the first half, imposed his will in the second half, especially on the go-ahead drive. The Pirates, held to 57 yards on the ground in the first half, finished with 222 for their third straight game surpassing 220 yards.

"I'm so proud of Rahjai Harris, what he means to this football team and what he did tonight," Harrell said. "… I'm just really proud of the way he ran, putting this team on his back and just the way he's leading this football team."

ECU needed Harris and more to overcome an inspired effort from Tulsa led by true freshman receiver Joseph Williams, who put on a show with five catches for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Cooper Legas completed 20 of 32 passes for 293 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

The Golden Hurricane, coming off a bye week, found an early rhythm on offense, driving from one 29 to other before Memphis transfer Seth Morgan converted his ninth-straight field goal, hitting from 47 yards for a 3-0 lead.

One big hit eight minutes into the first prevented Tulsa from seizing a two-score lead and all the momentum.

Tulsa mounted a drive after Benjamin's 21-yard punt return, but the talented wide receiver coughed up the ball inside the five after a crunching hit by Andrew Wilson-Lamp on a jet sweep. Omar Rogers smothered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

Four plays later, ECU owned the lead. Houser teamed up with Anthony Smith on passes of 22 and 47 yards. Winston Wright Jr., who had a team-high nine catches for 68 yards, accounted for the final four yards after taking a pass from Houser in the right flat.

The Pirates appeared to strike again early in the second quarter, but three self-inflicted wounds thwarted the threat and set in motion a bizarre, mistake-filled but entertaining remainder of the half.

Houser's 37-yard toss to Chase Sowell put the Pirates inside the one on a play that officials initially ruled a touchdown but then reversed. After a five-yard loss on a Houser fumble and a penalty on a blind-side block by Sowell, Elijah Green picked off a Houser pass at the eight.

ECU, behind receiver Yannick Smith and running back Marlon Gunn Jr., did not squander its next opportunity. Gunn ripped off a run of 20 then trotted in from the one to cap off the drive and give the Pirates a 14-3 lead.

That stood until a wacky, back-and-forth final two minutes unfolded.

First, Tulsa drew within 14-10 with 1:51 left in the half on a leaping catch by Williams for a 39-yard touchdown. A pair of fourth-down offsides penalties kept the drive alive. Tulsa also overcame a personal foul and holding penalty.

Just 19 seconds later, the Hurricane surged in front on Keuan Parker's interception of an ill-advised pass and 32-yard return. Ashton Williams came up with an apparent interception one play before, but replay showed the ball hit the turf.

A fumble by Wright three plays later handed Tulsa yet another chance to score before the end of the half, but Sam Dankah snared Legas' pass to Benjamin.

The Pirates stayed aggressive and cashed in Andrew Conrad's career-long, 52-yard field goal for a 17-17 tie.

ECU threatened to create some separation in the third quarter, but the mistakes only multiplied.

A 26-yard pass to Sowell followed by a 16-yard dash by London Montgomery propelled ECU back in front 24-17 with 8:48 to play in the third.

The Pirates survived Houser's third interception with a defensive stand after Tulsa took over at the ECU 15. The opportunity produced nothing when Morgan missed from 47 yards.

Tulsa took advantage on its next possession with the aid of a pair of ECU penalties, drawing even on a 14-yard pass from Legas to Williams.

The same duo hooked up again early in the fourth quarter, this time from 50 yards to give the Hurricane a 31-24 lead.

The Pirates gambled and failed on a fourth-down try on their next possession but converted two fourth downs to draw within 31-30. Harris ran the final 24 yards, but Andrew Conrad's PAT kick bounced off the right upright.

ECU retained possession after a three-and-out and promptly moved 72 yards in six plays with Harris rambling the final 24. He also bulled in for the two-point conversion.

The drama was far from over. Legas connected on passes of 24 and 44 yards to move the ball to the seven. Two quarterback keepers inched the ball to the three. After a pass to Williams fell incomplete in the back of the end zone, Brown-Murray delivered the clinching stop on Benjamin.

"The guys were locked in," Harrell said of the final play. "You could tell the confidence in their eyes the whole time. Really proud of those young men and their effort there at the end of the football game."