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With 8:17 to go in the game, Duke’s Tyrese Proctor hit a free throw to put his team up by 14.
Houston had scored one time in the previous five minutes and looked like they had nothing left.
And then everything changed.
Led by LJ Cryer, as they were throughout the whole game, the Cougars clawed their way back into it over the next eight minutes, eventually pulling off one of the most shocking, incredible and unlikely comebacks in Final Four history.
Cryer hit a 3-pointer with 8:02 on the clock and then sunk a free throw minutes later after a Duke turnover to cut the deficit to 10. He missed his next free throw but Houston got the rebound and Cryer hit another jumper to bring the Cougars within eight.
With 5:55 to go, J’Wan Roberts hit a layup to cut the deficit to six and the red parts of the crowd at the Alamodome were suddenly stirring. A second-chance tip in a minute later made the Cougars believe.
Proctor hit two more free throws to rebuild the lead and then Cooper Flagg, the all-everything freshman for the Blue Devils, hit a 3-pointer with three minutes to go. The Duke lead was now nine and it looked like that was going to be enough to snuff out the Houston comeback attempt.
Then Emmanuel Sharp entered the chat.
A layup and two free throws from Sharp cut the lead back down to five with 1:27 to go. Flagg answered with two free throws of his own and the lead was seven with 1:26 to play. Sharp hit two more free throws with 1:14 left to cut the deficit to five again.
And then all hell broke loose.
First, Houston’s Joseph Tugler touched the ball while Duke was waiting to inbound it, getting a technical foul. Kon Knueppel made the free throw and Duke got the ball back with a chance to seal it. But Tugler wasn’t going to go out on a mistake like that – he blocked a Knueppel layup attempt and the ball went back down the court, where Sharp hit another 3-pointer to make it 67-64 with 33 seconds to go.
Duke got the ball inbounds after some trouble and Sion James made a bad mistake at a bad time, throwing an errant pass that was nabbed by Mylik Wilson. Wilson ran down the floor and shot a 3 to tie, but it missed – but there was Tugler again to jam home the rebound and cut the deficit to one.
Houston fouled Proctor on the inbounds play for a one-and-one free throw opportunity. He bricked it and J’Wan Roberts grabbed the rebound. Flagg fouled him quickly and, improbably, Houston was shooting free throws to take the lead with 19 seconds left.
Roberts nailed them both and Houston had a one-point lead. Duke had one more chance and they went to their superstar, but Flagg couldn’t make the jumper.
Wilson grabbed the rebound and got the ball back to Cryer, who was fouled and sunk two more from the charity stripe. One last heave from Proctor went way wide of the basket and the Alamodome hit an ear-damaging decibel level as the Houston fans went absolutely insane.
And then there were two teams left!
Saturday’s Final Four gave us unforgettable moments that will go down in college basketball history.
Florida and Houston will meet in Monday’s national championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio but the road to get there wasn’t easy for either.
The Gators survived a heavyweight bout against SEC foes Auburn while the Cougars pulled off one of the most stunning come-from-behind wins against a juggernaut Duke squad.
Here are some of the best pictures from tonight’s Final Four matchups:
See more photos from this year’s March Madness tournament.
The emotions were written all over Cooper Flagg’s face in the postgame press conference.
The incredible freshman struggled to power through his emotions after a heartbreaking loss, his voice catching as he described what this season – potentially his only season in college – has meant to him.
“It was an incredible season, incredible people, incredible relationships that I’m gonna have for the rest of my life,” Flagg said, his voice catching. “Didn’t end the way we wanted to, but still an incredible year.”
The 18-year-old Flagg balled out in this Final Four game, scoring 27 points, grabbing seven rebounds, blocking three shots and racking up two steals. He missed a shot in the final seconds with a chance to put his team back in front, a moment that will surely haunt him, but he was also the main reason his team had built its lead in the first place.
Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson is headed to his first national title game after Houston pulled off an incredible comeback to stun Duke in the Final Four on Saturday.
If there’s one person who never lost hope in his squad despite their struggles on offense, it’s Sampson.
“No one ever loses at anything as long as you don’t quit,” Sampson told the CBS broadcast after the game. “If you quit, then you’ve lost.”
Sampson continued: “We’ve been here before it’s not like we’re down 20. It’s not like we were playing. Great we felt like if we could get it close enough to put some game pressure on them then something good can happen.”
Duke had a six-point lead with 1:14 to play, but the Cougars closed the game on an 11-1 run to secure a return to the national title game against Florida on Monday.
It is absolute pandemonium in the Alamodome. The Duke fans have fled the arena, the Houston fans are standing on their chairs and screaming in disbelief.
Truly, it’s the most incredible Final Four comeback in recent memory, maybe ever – recency bias certainly points to the latter.
Houston looked dead in the water about halfway through the second half and Duke’s talented group of freshmen looked for all the world like they were going to cruise into the national championship game. Even with 1:14 to go, the Cougars still trailed by six.
But Houston’s experience and grit won out in the end. They never panicked, even when their shooting touch abandoned them multiple times throughout the game.
It all sets up an incredible showdown on Monday night. Florida vs. Houston, Todd Golden vs. Kelvin Sampson. A young head coach vs. a veteran and both of them playing for their first national title.
It’s also a matchup of incredible guards – Walter Clayton Jr. for Florida and LJ Cryer for Houston, both of whom mean everything to their squads.
Wow. Just wow.
You can’t make it up.
In one of the most spectacular comebacks in recent college basketball history, the Houston Cougars erased a 14-point deficit to stun the Duke Blue Devils 70–67 to clinch a berth in the national title game for the first time since 1984.
The Cougars offense struggled for long stretches throughout but settled in for the closing minutes, stringing together an 11-1 run to pull off the unthinkable come from behind victory.
HOUSTON WITH A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES 😱
THE COUGARS ARE OFF THE THE #NATIONALCHAMPIONSHIP GAME 👏#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/Jpp8yyN9Qp
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
L.J. Cryer led the way for the Cougars, dropping a team-high 26 points and five rebounds, while Emanuel Sharp added 16 points.
Meanwhile, for Duke, this loss will sting after the stunning collapse. After playing well on offense for most of the contest, a nearly eight minute spell without a field goal in the second half ultimately doomed the Blue Devils.
Freshman duo of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel combined to score 43 of the team’s 67 points loss.
In the end, the nation’s best defense edged out the nation’s best offense.
Final: Houston 70, Duke 67
LJ Cryer steps up to the free throw line to shoot two. He makes one … and then another. The lead is three with 3.7 seconds to go.
The ball is. Heaved down the court and Duke scrambles after it. Tyrese Proctor heaves up a desperation shot and it’s WIDE!
HOUSTON WINS!
Score: Houston 70, Duke 67
Suddenly, somehow, Duke finds itself trailing.
Houston has clawed and scratched its way back and Duke and their talented freshmen have fallen quiet at the wrong time.
Cooper Flagg misses a turnaround jumpshot and HOUSTON GRABS THE BOARD!
Houston gets the stop! pic.twitter.com/CtKxr8dkWO
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 6, 2025
The Cougars are shooting free throws to book a spot in the national championship!
There are 3.7 seconds to go and LJ Cryer is at the line!
Score: Houston 68, Duke 67
The Alamodome explodes – Houston is in the lead!
An absolutely unbelievable comeback. Drinks are flying in the air! Houston fans are standing on their chairs! It’s their first lead since the score was 6-5 and they’ve erased a 14-point deficit!
Unreal! Absolute BEDLAM in the Houston corners of the Alamodome!
Score: Houston 68, Duke 67
Duke again faces Houston’s full court press to get the ball in play and they can’t do it!
Houston takes a 3 and misses it, but it’s slammed back home by Joseph Tugler! Cougars trail by one!
OH MY! HOUSTON CUTS THE LEAD TO ONE! pic.twitter.com/sF9g6TI0AX
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 6, 2025
Duke gets the ball in and up the floor, the Cougars foul with 20.3 to go.
And Duke MISSES the free throw! Houston is shooting to take the lead with 19.6 left.
Score: Duke 67, Houston 66
There’s 31.8 seconds remaining with Duke awarded the ball after an inbounds pass appeared to deflect off a Houston defender. But Houston’s Kelvin Sampson has called for the officials to review the play.
And they confirm it’s the Blue Devils’ ball.
Score: Duke 67, Houston 64
The Cougars cut things down to five again but a critical mistake at an awful time by Joseph Tugler, Houston’s talented forward.
He’s called for a technical after touching the ball while it was out of bounds and in Duke’s possession. Duke will get a chance to rebuild their lead and then also keep the ball after the free throw.
Absolutely killer mistake from one of the younger members of Houston’s team. The wind has just been taken out of the sails of the red-clad fans in San Antonio.
Kon Knueppel hits the free throw but Duke can’t get anything else on the offensive end. Houston brings the ball back down the court and Emmanuel Sharpe nails a 3! Suddenly it’s a three-point game with 32 seconds left!
IT’S A ONE-POSSESSION GAME 👀#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/bgzNqqTNvR
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
Score: Duke 67, Houston 64
Cooper Flagg’s latest 3-pointer ended the nearly eight-minute scoreless drought and the Blue Devils’ lead ballooned back up to nine points.
Flagg then gets a massive block on Joseph Tugler to further establish the Blue Devils’ momentum.
NOT IN COOPER’S HOUSE!!! pic.twitter.com/ZnTWpQWrxY
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 6, 2025
However, Cougars’ Emanuel Sharp responds with four points to get the Cougars within five points.
Score: Duke 64, Houston 59
Well, well, well just when they looked like they’re out of it, Houston has made its charge.
With under five minutes to go, the Cougars have cut the Duke lead to four and Houston is on a 10-0 run over the last three minutes and change. The crowd here in San Antonio is on its feet as the Cougars draw ever closer, led by LJ Cryer’s 24 points.
IT’S A FOUR-POINT GAME WITH 5 TO PLAY ON CBS! pic.twitter.com/1hAv2JAolm
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 6, 2025
All the momentum with Houston now with four minutes to go.
The Blue Devils haven’t made a field goal since the 10:31 mark of the second half.
Can the freshman duo of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel help find Duke’s rhythm?
Score: Duke 59, Houston 55
Outside of their shooting struggles, the Cougars’ chances at a come back are being hindered by continued foul trouble to Milos Uzan (4) and Joseph Tugler (3).
Both have missed extended periods of time, causing trouble for Houston on both sides of the ball.
Without the three-ball, Houston would far out of this one. They’re shooting 50% from long range.
Meanwhile, Duke have gone cold, the latest spell stretched out to nearly four minutes without a field goal.
Score: Duke 59, Houston 51
We are all witnesses! It’s the Cooper Flagg show in San Antonio.
The freshman phenom is up to a game-high 22 points, and has scored the Blue Devils’ last six points.
Flagg is cementing himself as one of college basketball’s best players in recent memory. Add that excellent to Houston’s inability to shoot – they’re shooting 35% from the field in this one – and Duke is sucking the drama out of this game.
Coop absorbs the contact and finishes at the rim 💪#MarchMadness @DukeMBB pic.twitter.com/g6m1B0Ua0n
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
Score: Duke 59, Houston 45
Duke guard Sion James is being cared for by Blue Devils’ trainers after getting up slowly following a hard fall while Duke was on defense.
The referees have ruled no flagrant foul and that it was incidental contact. James slowly walked off the court under his own power, taking a moment to collect himself as he did so.
James returned a few minutes later and is back in this game.
Score: Duke 58, Houston 45
Cooper Flagg is ready for prime time.
The magnificent freshman just scored his 16th point on a three, just after converting an old-fashioned three-point play on the last time down the court. Flagg can add four rebounds, three assists and two blocks to his stat line as he powers his team to a second-half lead.
COOPER FLAGG AND-1 💪#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/9nuWitOSCR
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
Houston is hanging around but they just can’t seem to make enough plays to stay with the Blue Devils’ offense. Veteran experience was supposed to be their answer to Duke’s talent, but it’s freshmen Flagg and Kon Knueppel who are doing all the damage in this one – Knueppel has 15 points.
LJ Cryer has nearly half of Houston’s points, leading all scorers with 18. He’s going to need some help fast.
Houston’s Joseph Tugler is dealing with foul trouble as the Cougars will again try to contain Flagg without college basketball’s best defender.
Score: Duke 50, Houston 42
Houston’s LJ Cryer has been the lone bright spot for the Cougars’ offense, scoring 18 of the team’s 38 points so far.
Cryer knows the team has to come out strong in the second half, if they want to come back.
“I don’t know. We just found something that worked,” Cryer told CBS broadcast on the key to the strong first-half finish. “Just getting in the gaps. We just got to find each other. Make a play for somebody else.”
“We gotta take all that confidence in this half. There’s 20 minutes, our season on the line right now so that’s that.”
Score: Duke 41, Houston 36
We’re back underway in San Antonio, with 20 minutes to go before finalizing the men’s NCAA tournament title game matchup.
Duke and Houston have tipped off for the second half. The winner secures a date against Florida in the national championship game on Monday night.
The Blue Devils are seeking a return since legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski stepped down in 2022. For the Cougars, they’ll look to regroup and clinch their first national title game berth since 1984.
Duke leads 34-28, but the Cougars closed the half strong. Who will come out on top? Tune in!
Score: Duke 34, Houston 28
