houston vs duke: There’s no defending a team that manages just one field goal in the final 10 minutes of a Final Four game — but Duke may have at least one explanation for its historic collapse against Houston on Saturday.
The entire game turned on a single play with just 20 seconds remaining. By then, Houston had chipped away at what was once a 14-point deficit, cutting it to just one. Duke still had possession, and junior Tyrese Proctor went to the free-throw line. Two successful shots would’ve forced Houston to hit a three-pointer just to push the game into overtime.
But Proctor missed the front end of a one-and-one, and things quickly unraveled. On the rebound, Duke’s star freshman Cooper Flagg was called for a foul — a highly questionable decision that immediately sent J’Wan Roberts to the line, with Houston already in the bonus. Roberts calmly sank both free throws, giving the Cougars their first lead since the 14:42 mark of the first half.
However, upon further review, it’s difficult to see where Flagg actually committed a foul. Roberts appeared more focused on boxing him out than going for the rebound — he didn’t even raise a hand to contest it. Meanwhile, Flagg didn’t seem to make any significant contact while reaching for the ball.
Even the CBS broadcasters voiced their disagreement with the call.
In fairness to the officials, seeing a player reach over an opponent on a rebound is often an automatic whistle. Unfortunately for Duke, this was one of those moments where that split-second decision had major consequences.
Houston capitalized, getting another stop on a missed jumper by Flagg with eight seconds remaining. L.J. Cryer then iced the game at the free-throw line, sinking both shots with three seconds left — sealing a victory that Duke critics won’t soon forget.
The foul and missed shot are a rocky ending for Flagg’s brilliant college career. The freshman, who would still be playing in high school right now had he not reclassified, swept the major national player of the year awards and is the overwhelming favorite to go first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Final Four: Houston vs Duke in dramatic finish, advances to national title game against Florida
For the better part of 30 minutes on Saturday, Duke looked poised to punch its ticket to the national championship game — and cap Cooper Flagg’s remarkable freshman season with a shot at the title.
But Houston had other plans.
The Cougars mounted a furious comeback, going on a 10-0 run late in the second half to slice a 59-45 Duke lead down to just four points. They closed the game with a stunning 15-3 burst, ultimately pulling off a 70-67 upset and earning a spot in Monday’s national title showdown against Florida.
Frantic Finish Propels Houston to Championship Stage
Duke still seemed in control with a 67-61 lead and the ball in hand with just 1:14 remaining. But when Kon Knueppel missed a layup, Houston capitalized. Emanuel Sharp drained a clutch three-pointer on the other end, cutting the deficit to 67-64 with just 33 seconds left — and setting the stage for a finish Duke fans won’t soon forget.
Houston then forced a turnover on an inbounds pass under its basket, leading to a Joseph Tugler put-back dunk that cut Duke’s lead to 67-66.
On the next possession, Duke’s Tyrese Proctor missed the front end of a crucial one-and-one, opening the door for Houston. As players scrambled for the rebound, Cooper Flagg was called for a loose-ball foul — a controversial whistle that sent J’Wan Roberts to the line with a chance to take the lead. Roberts calmly sank both free throws, putting Houston ahead 68-67 with 19.6 seconds left and extending the Cougars’ late-game surge to a 13-3 run.
Cooper Flagg had a clean look at a potential go-ahead jumper on Duke’s next possession, but it bounced off the front of the rim. Houston’s Mylik Wilson grabbed the rebound, and Duke quickly fouled L.J. Cryer with just 3.7 seconds remaining. Cryer calmly knocked down both free throws to extend Houston’s lead.
Tyrese Proctor had one last chance with a desperation heave after Cryer’s shots, but it sailed over the backboard as the final buzzer sounded.
In the end, Duke’s offense went ice-cold when it mattered most. The Blue Devils managed just one field goal in the final 10 minutes and 31 seconds. Flagg’s jumper at the 10:31 mark gave Duke a 58-45 lead, and his clutch three-pointer with 3:03 left momentarily halted Houston’s momentum at 64-55. But it wasn’t enough, as Duke failed to generate offense down the stretch against the nation’s top-ranked defense.
Shocking Collapse for the Title Favorites
It all added up to a stunning collapse for a Duke team widely considered the favorite to win it all. With a 14-point lead and just 8:17 left on the clock, the Blue Devils appeared firmly in control — well on their way to the national championship game.
Cooper Flagg looked destined to cap his freshman campaign with a trip to the title game, delivering a dominant performance on both ends of the court. He finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals — 19 of those points coming after halftime as Duke built and held its commanding lead.
But it all unraveled late.
Flagg’s controversial foul on J’Wan Roberts allowed Houston to take the lead, and his missed jumper on Duke’s final possession denied the Blue Devils a chance to retake it with just eight seconds remaining. In a matter of moments, Duke’s title hopes slipped away.
Flagg is widely expected to leave for the NBA, where he’ll be the presumptive No. 1 pick in the draft in June. He’ll do so with multiple National Player of the Year awards, capping one of the greatest freshman seasons in the history of college basketball. But his college career comes to a likely end two wins short of a national championship.
Instead, Houston has a chance to secure its first national championship after its seventh trip to the Final Four.
L.J. Cryer Leads the Way for Houston
While Duke had Cooper Flagg, Houston had its own All-American stepping up when it mattered most. L.J. Cryer was the hero for the Cougars, especially early on when the offense struggled to find its rhythm.
As Houston opened the game shooting just 3-of-16 from the field, Cryer was the lone bright spot, keeping the team afloat. He finished the first half with 12 points and three rebounds, shooting an efficient 4-of-7 from the floor — including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the rest of Houston’s starting lineup combined to shoot just 4-of-16, as Duke took a 34-28 lead into halftime.
Cryer stayed hot in the second half, answering every Duke surge with big-time buckets to keep Houston within reach. He drained two more three-pointers in the opening three minutes of the half, then sparked a critical rally late. In a 48-second span, Cryer went on a personal 6-0 run, trimming Duke’s lead to 59-51 with 7:43 left — setting the stage for Houston’s furious finish.
Cryer’s clutch free throws in the closing seconds ultimately sealed the win for Houston.
He finished with a game-high 26 points and five rebounds, shooting an impressive 8-of-14 from the field — including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. His steady scoring and leadership set the tone for the Cougars throughout.
As the game wore on, Cryer’s teammates stepped up to help fuel Houston’s comeback. Emanuel Sharp added 16 points, knocking down 3-of-7 from deep, while J’Wan Roberts delivered a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Cougars also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Duke 42-31.
Despite a cold start, Houston finished the game shooting 37.7% from the field — just enough to knock off the tournament favorites and punch their ticket to the national title game.
In the end, it was Houston’s elite defense and sharp 3-point shooting that made the difference. The Cougars, ranked No. 1 in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency, lived up to the billing — and then some. They held Duke to just 39.6% shooting from the field and limited the Blue Devils to under 70 points for only the fourth time in 39 games this season. Unlike the previous three, this time Duke’s defense wasn’t enough to bail them out.
Offensively, Houston was lights out from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 22 attempts (45.5%) — a critical edge in a tightly contested game.
With the victory, Houston extended its winning streak to 18 games and punched its ticket to the national title game. There, the Cougars will face another red-hot team in Florida, which won the SEC Tournament and knocked off fellow No. 1 seed Auburn in Saturday’s other semifinal. Learn about finance