SAN ANTONIO — Houston’s suffocating defense wiped away a 14-point deficit over the final eight minutes and erased Cooper Flagg and Duke’s title hopes Saturday in a 70-67 stunner over the Blue Devils at the Final Four.
Duke made a grand total of one field goal over the last 10 1/2 minutes of this game. The second-to-last attempt was a step-back jumper in the lane by Flagg that J’Wan Roberts disrupted. The last was a desperation heave by Tyrese Proctor that caught nothing at the buzzer.
It was Roberts’ two free throws with 19.6 seconds left that gave the Cougars their first lead since 6-5. LJ Cryer, who led Houston with 26 points, made two more to push the lead to three. It was Houston’s biggest lead of the night.
Unreal!!!!! Cougs win!!!!!! 11-1 run knock off favored Duke @KHOU#championspic.twitter.com/3mgqQpEeKc
— LEN CANNON (@lencannonKHOU) April 6, 2025
UH vs Duke headlines: Tugler and Houston defense vs. Flagg and Duke offense | UH motivated by memory of former teammate|Coogs vs. Duke is matchup of heart vs. height| Join KHOU 11 at the watch party downtown | UH fans invade San Antonio
The Cougars, who never won a title, not even in the days of Phi Slama Jamma, will play Florida on Monday night for the championship.
Florida’s 79-73 win over Auburn in the early game was a free-flowing hoopsfest. This one would’ve looked perfect on a cracked blacktop and a court with chain-link nets.
Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars are heading to the #NationalChampionship game 🤩#MarchMadness@UHCougarMBKpic.twitter.com/UfqEmLS7tX
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
That’s just how Houston likes it. It closed the game on an 11-1 run, and though Flagg finished with 27 points, he did it on 8-for-19 shooting and never got a good look after his 3 at the 3:02 mark put the Blue Devils up by nine.
It looked over at that point. Houston was just getting started.
INSTANT REACTION: @UHCougarMBK coming off court after beating Duke in #finalfour2025 70-67 @KHOUpic.twitter.com/xndDaHBTOj
— Zack Tawatari (@zacktKHOU) April 6, 2025
A team that prides itself on getting three stops in a row — calling the third one the “kill stop” — allowed a measly three free throws down the stretch.
Houston finished with four blocked shots, including four from its eraser, Joseph Tugler.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
LJ Cryer was CLUTCH!
LJ Cryer was INSTRUMENTAL in @UHCougarMBK‘s comeback 💯#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/eDPCF6MXU6
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
LJ Cryer’s shooting has kept Houston in the game. He started the second half the way he ended the first half.
Cryer gets right back to it 🔥#MarchMadness@UHCougarMBKpic.twitter.com/0AdnCAvrLl
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
Cooper Flagg is a force.
Coop was persistent for the and-one 😤#MarchMadnesshttps://t.co/mPzCRxAWVnpic.twitter.com/kwl4kY7zn3
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
LJ Cryer started heating up near the end of the first half.
LJ Cryer is heating up 🔥#MarchMadness@UHCougarMBKpic.twitter.com/CfFmJFzJQA
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
J’wan Roberts with the power move!
BIG. STRONG. MOVE. pic.twitter.com/sqdR4ojvbt
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 6, 2025
The Blue Devils maintained control through the first half, but Emanuel Sharp kept Houston close.
E FROM DEEP 📺 CBS | @emanuelsharp_pic.twitter.com/5cuz7PmevD
— Houston Men’s Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) April 6, 2025
The Coogs will have their hands full with AP Player of the Year Cooper Flagg.
COOPER FLAGG ALL THE WAY TO THE RIM 💪#MarchMadness@DukeMBBpic.twitter.com/Vmea5BTOWU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
LJ Cryer got the scoring started against Duke from long range.
LJ Cryer puts Houston on the board first 🎯#MarchMadness@UHCougarMBKpic.twitter.com/mqta1Gv76m
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
THE MATCHUP
Bottom line
No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Houston play in the NCAA Tournament Final Four.
Blue Devils favored by 5.5 points; over/under is 136.5
The Cougars’ record in Big 12 action is 22-1. Houston averages 74.0 points while outscoring opponents by 15.7 points per game.The Blue Devils’ record in ACC play is 22-1, and their record is 13-2 in non-conference games.
Duke leads the ACC in rebounding, averaging 35.7 boards. Cooper Flagg leads the Blue Devils with 7.5 rebounds.
Duke makes 49.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 11.4 percentage points higher than Houston has allowed to its opponents (38.2%). Houston averages 8.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 6.9 per game Duke allows.
Top performers
Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Blue Devils. Kon Knueppel is averaging 17 points and 3.9 assists over the past 10 games.
J’wan Roberts is averaging 10.7 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Cougars. LJ Cryer is averaging 17.5 points over the last 10 games.
Last 10 games
Cougars: 10-0, averaging 71.6 points, 33.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 59.6 points.
Blue Devils: 10-0, averaging 86.7 points, 35.9 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.0 points per game.