Duke’s coronation was all however written late within the second half in opposition to Houston within the 2025 males’s Closing 4. The Blue Devils led by 14 factors with simply over eight minutes left, placing this system on the doorstep of the nationwide championship sport. Duke’s expertise benefit was overwhelming: Cooper Flagg was residing as much as the generational hype with an excellent efficiency, Kon Knueppel knocked down outdoors photographs to indicate why he’s a lottery decide, and Khaman Maluach towered over everybody on the courtroom to indicate why he’s one, too. Duke’s newest freshman tremendous staff was too good to fail.
Simply as the primary narratives for a possible Duke vs. Florida nationwide championship sport have been beginning to type, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars went into overdrive. Houston was no slouch itself, a legit No. 1 seed and house owners of the nation’s longest lively profitable streak. The Cougars relied on their protection as they’ve finished so many instances prior to now, and someway delivered a comeback for the ages to finish Duke’s season and push them into the nationwide title sport.
Houston shocked Duke, 70-67, in one of many wildest Closing 4 endings in historical past. The Cougars held Duke to 1 subject purpose during the last 10:30 of regulation. A Houston staff that doesn’t have any projected NBA draft picks simply stole a nationwide championship look from a Duke roster stuffed with them.
This was Sampson’s masterclass, the fruits of a legendary profession taking part in out on the most important stage within the sport. Sampson and the Cougars stole this sport with toughness, self-discipline, IQ, and an unbreakable resolve to proceed executing even when the sport appeared misplaced. On Monday evening, Houston will face Florida in an try to win its first nationwide championship in program historical past.
Sampson and his staff deserve all of the credit score, however make no mistake: this was a collapse by Duke, and one which received’t be forgotten any time quickly. Jon Scheyer had finished such an awesome job main a loaded Blue Devils roster thus far, however he’ll remorse letting this chance slip by way of his fingers. Sampson was simply higher.
Right here’s how Houston stole the win from Duke, and compelled the Blue Devils in a choke job to recollect.
Houston’s protection was unbelievable within the final 10 minutes
Duke was on seven minute scoring drought late within the second half when Flagg drilled a three-pointer that put his staff up 9 factors with 3:03 left. It was the primary subject purpose Houston surrendered since a Flagg bucket on the 10:31 mark of the second half, and it was the final subject purpose Duke would get for the evening.
Houston trailed by 5 with 1:14 left when massive man Joseph Tugler was known as for a technical foul for by chance touching the ball as Duke was inbounding it. Knueppel knocked down the free throw, and Duke acquired the ball. Houston pressured a cease, and Emanuel Sharp nailed a three-pointer on the opposite finish. Out of the blue, it was a one possession sport.
Houston then put a full courtroom press on Duke because it inbounded the ball underneath its personal basket. Duke couldn’t get it in cleanly even after a timeout. Houston stole the ball, missed a three-pointer, however Tugler was there to hammer house a tip dunk. Duke’s lead with down to 1.
Cooper Flagg was known as for a controversial foul
Tyrese Proctor went to the foul line for Duke for a one-and-one together with his staff up one. Proctor missed the primary free throw, and Flagg was known as for an over-the-back foul on the rebound. Ought to this have been a foul?
Houston despatched J’Wan Roberts, its sixth-year massive man and heart-and-soul, to the foul line. Regardless of being a 62 p.c free throw shooter, Roberts knocked down each to place Houston in entrance.
Flagg had yet another likelihood to place Duke on prime, however he got here up quick on a shot with Roberts defending.
Houston had no enterprise profitable this sport
Houston is a improbable staff, however Duke’s expertise benefit was evident from the second the sport tipped off. Duke was in management for a lot of the evening. Houston cranked up the defensive depth, made its free throws, and acquired sufficient breaks to someway pull off the win.
The Cougars had a 9-0 run within the ultimate 33 seconds.
Duke’s guards allow them to down. Sion James and Tyrese Proctor would love the final 10 minutes of that sport again. Flagg additionally had so many photographs that simply didn’t fall within the second half. How did Maluach end the sport and not using a rebound as a 7’2 lottery decide going in opposition to Houston’s no-name entrance line of 6’8 guys?
This can be a historic comeback for Houston in each approach.
Houston was down 14 with 8:17 left within the second half.
That is the biggest second half comeback within the Closing 4 since Loyola Chicago got here again from down 15 in 1963. pic.twitter.com/94lhxQ5eia
– Keerthika Uthayakumar (@Kerthikau) April 6, 2025
Scheyer and Duke will likely be haunted by letting this one slip away. They have been solely getting one likelihood with Flagg, and he someway exceeded the hype all through this season and this match run. It felt just like the Blue Devils have been one of the best staff within the subject, however they melted down when it mattered. This hurts each bit as a lot because the yr Duke misplaced within the Elite Eight with Zion Williamson to Michigan State.
Kelvin Sampson did that. It’s nonetheless arduous to consider Houston goes to the nationwide championship sport.
