Duke blows late lead as Houston stunningly…
SAN ANTONIO – Who stated this NCAA Tournament lacked upsets?
Saturday night time produced a whopper.
Cooper Flagg and mighty Duke, the favorites of this No. 1-seeded Final Four, are going home early.
L.J Cryer, who scored 24 factors shoots over Kon Knueppel during Houston’s 70-67 Final Four win over Duke on April 5, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Connect
Houston pulled a shocker, rallying from 14 down within the remaining 8:17 to advance to Monday night time’s national championship with a riveting 70-67 victory over the freshmen-led Blue Devils at a buzzing Alamodome.
J’Wan Roberts’ two free throws with 19.6 seconds left gave the Cougars the lead for good and after Flagg missed within the lane, LJ Cryer made two more.
Tyrese Proctor’s desperation heave didn’t come close and Houston gamers ran everywhere in the flooring celebrating the dramatic victory.
For a lot of the night time, it appeared like Duke and its projected lottery choose freshmen had been headed to the ultimate.
They had been in control. But, Houston by no means let go of the rope. It stored on chipping away.
Emanuel Sharp’s 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds to go make it a single possession recreation for the primary time within the second half, and Houston stole the inbounds move.
Cooper Flagg, who scored 27 factors, slams home a dunk during Duke’s Final Four loss to Houston on April 5, 2025. Stephanie Scarbrough
Joseph Tugler’s tip dunk cut it to 1 and Proctor missed the entrance finish of a 1-and-1 on the different finish. Flagg went over the back, sending Roberts to the road.
Cryer had 26 factors to lead Houston and Sharp added 16.
Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 choose in June’s NBA Draft for years, had 27 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists.
For a massive portion of the primary half, Duke was treating Houston like its 4 earlier match opponents. It was smothering them on the defensive finish and getting simple seems to be on the different finish.
L.J. Cryer shoots a floater during Houston’s Final Four loss to Duke. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
It was a 12-point lead late within the opening stanza, when Houston started to heat up from deep.
It made its remaining 3-point makes an attempt after beginning 2-of-8, and solely trailed by six at halftime, equaling Duke’s smallest lead on the break of the match.
The Cougars had been lucky to be close, contemplating they shot 31 % from the sphere and had been minus-four within the turnover division.
Cooper Flagg dives to beet L.J. Cryer to a unfastened ball during the primary half of Duke’s Final Four win over Houston. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Cryer was their best participant, notching 12 factors and hitting three 3s.
The Duke freshmen had been predictably productive.
Knueppel had 12 factors and Flagg adopted with eight factors, 4 rebounds, two assists and two blocks as the Blue Devils more than doubled Houston within the paint, 16-6.
Kon Knueppel places up a shot over Cougars defenders during Duke’s Final Four win over Houston. IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Connect
Going back to the primary half, the Cougars hit 10 of 11 pictures, however they couldn’t cut into the deficit.
Even when Duke missed, it made up for it on the offensive glass. Flagg began the second half by scoring inside and scored eight factors within the first 4:52 of the period.
Once Houston lastly started to overlook, Duke stretched out the lead. It ballooned to 14 after Flagg went to the free throw line on back-to-back journeys with 11:54 left.
Houston ripped off a 10-0 run to get within 4. It had a probability to get even nearer, however Cryer missed a mid-range jumper, Tyrese Proctor hit two free throws and Flagg hit a 3-pointer.
He then swatted a Tugler layup attempt out of bounds. It felt like that had snugged out the rally. Houston clearly had different concepts.
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