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3w ago

Houston Stuns Duke with Historic Comeback to Reach NCAA Title Game

The Cougars erased a 14-point deficit to defeat the Blue Devils 70-67, advancing to face Florida in pursuit of their first national championship.

Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Florida Gators guard Alijah Martin (15) dunks the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the second half in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Houston guard Emanuel Sharp (21) and forward J'Wan Roberts (13) celebrate after their defeat of Duke in the national semifinals of the 2025 NCAA men's tournament at the Alamodome.
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Houston fans celebrate during Saturday night's NCAA Tournament semifinal game against Duke at the Alamodome.

Overview

  • Houston overcame a 14-point second-half deficit, marking one of the largest comebacks in NCAA Final Four history.
  • Duke scored only one field goal in the final 10:30, collapsing under Houston's defensive pressure and late-game execution.
  • A controversial foul on Duke's Cooper Flagg with 19.6 seconds left allowed Houston's J'Wan Roberts to sink two decisive free throws.
  • Flagg, Duke's star freshman, delivered a standout 27-point performance but missed a potential game-winning jumper in the closing seconds.
  • The victory sends Houston to their first national championship game since 1984, where they will face Florida on Monday night.