Houston Stuns Duke in Final Four Thriller, Ends Blue Devils’ Championship Dreams

Houston Stuns Duke in Final Four Thriller, Ends Blue Devils’ Championship Dreams

San Antonio, TX – April 5, 2025
In a game that will be remembered as one of the most dramatic collapses in NCAA Final Four history, the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils fell to the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars, 70-67, on Saturday night at the Alamodome. What seemed like a coronation for Duke’s superstar freshman Cooper Flagg and a dominant Blue Devils squad turned into a stunning comeback victory for Houston, securing their first national championship game appearance since 1984.

For 35 minutes, Duke looked poised to advance to Monday’s title game against Florida. With 8:17 remaining, the Blue Devils held a commanding 59-45 lead, bolstered by Flagg’s 27-point performance and a stifling defense that had carried them through the tournament. But Houston, led by the relentless grit of coach Kelvin Sampson’s squad, refused to fold. The Cougars mounted a furious rally, outscoring Duke 25-8 over the final stretch, including a jaw-dropping 9-0 run in the last 35 seconds to seal the upset.

“They never gave up,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said postgame, his voice heavy with disbelief. “We had good looks, didn’t finish, and you have to give Houston a ton of credit. We were this close. We thought we were the best team, but the best team tonight was Houston.”

The turning point came in the final minute. Duke led 67-61 with 1:14 left, seemingly in control. But after a missed layup by freshman guard Kon Knueppel, Houston’s Emanuel Sharp drained a three-pointer to cut the lead to 67-64 with 33 seconds remaining. A forced turnover on Duke’s inbounds pass led to a Joseph Tugler dunk, bringing the Cougars within one at 67-66. Then, with the pressure mounting, Duke’s Tyrese Proctor missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw, and Flagg was whistled for a loose-ball foul on the rebound. Houston’s J’Wan Roberts stepped to the line and calmly sank two free throws with 8 seconds left, giving the Cougars a 68-67 lead.

Duke’s final chance slipped away when Flagg’s jumper rimmed out, and Houston’s L.J. Cryer iced the game with two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining. A desperate heave from Proctor at the buzzer fell short, sending the Houston bench into a frenzy and leaving Duke players stunned on the court.

Cryer led the Cougars with 26 points, while Sharp added 16, including the clutch three that sparked the comeback. Roberts finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, his presence on the glass—Houston outrebounded Duke 42-31—proving pivotal. For Duke, Flagg’s 27 points were a valiant effort, but Knueppel, who scored 12 in the first half, was held to just 4 after the break as Houston’s top-ranked defense tightened the screws.

“It’s a game of runs,” Roberts said. “We looked at the clock, and we had a feeling we could still win. That’s the culture here—keep fighting.”

The loss ends a remarkable season for Duke (35-4), who entered the Final Four as the tournament favorite, led by Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Blue Devils had cruised through the bracket, winning all but one game by double digits, and boasted the nation’s most efficient offense. But their late-game execution faltered, echoing a haunting parallel to their 2004 Final Four collapse against UConn, also in San Antonio, when they squandered an eight-point lead in the final three minutes.

For Houston (35-4), the victory snapped a seven-game Final Four losing streak and showcased why they’re considered the best defensive team in America. Sampson, in his third Final Four appearance, praised his team’s resilience. “It ain’t over because there’s still time on the clock,” he said, echoing Cryer’s sentiment. The Cougars’ physicality wore down Duke’s young roster, forcing five turnovers and grabbing six offensive rebounds in the decisive second half.

As the Alamodome crowd roared, Houston celebrated their ticket to face No. 1 Florida in Monday’s national championship game. For Duke, the sting of this defeat will linger—a reminder that even the most talented teams can unravel under pressure. “It’s hard to process,” Scheyer said. “We were so close to where we wanted to be.”

The Blue Devils now head into the offseason, their quest for a sixth national title delayed. Meanwhile, Houston marches on, one win away from etching their name in college basketball lore.