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Houston Stages Stunning Comeback to Advance to National Championship
March Madness continues to deliver thrilling moments.
The Houston Cougars completed an impressive comeback against the Duke Blue Devils, securing their spot in the national championship game against Florida.
In a dramatic finish, Duke’s Cooper Flagg, a highly-regarded prospect likely to be the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, missed a potential game-winning shot with under eight seconds remaining. This allowed Houston to escape with a narrow 70-67 victory.
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Duke initially took control of the game, leading by as much as 12 points in the first half. However, Houston managed to reduce the margin to six points as both teams struggled offensively in the first half.
The beginning of the second half saw Duke extending their lead to a game-high 14 points, capitalizing on Houston’s inability to find their shooting rhythm, missing seven of eight attempts during a crucial stretch.
Nevertheless, the Cougars responded with a ten-point rally, narrowing the gap to six with just under five minutes remaining. Duke then went through a protracted seven-minute stretch without hitting a field goal. Flagg, the Wooden Award winner, managed to sink a three-pointer with a little over three minutes left, increasing Duke’s lead to nine.
The Cougars were not finished, however. They ended the game on an impressive 11-1 run over the final 1:14. Emanuel Sharp drained a crucial three-pointer with 32.4 seconds left, cutting Houston’s deficit to just three points. Following a turnover by Duke during the inbound, Houston capitalized with a putback dunk, bringing the score to a one-point game.
In a tense moment, Duke’s Tyrese Proctor failed to convert a one-and-one opportunity, which allowed Houston to take charge after Flagg committed an over-the-back foul. J’Wan Roberts stepped up to the free-throw line, hitting both shots to give Houston the lead.
After Flagg’s missed shot that could have returned the lead to Duke with less than ten seconds to play, the Blue Devils were forced to foul. L.J. Cryer calmly sank both free throws, extending Houston’s lead to three points. Duke then missed a last-second attempt that could have sent the game into overtime, ultimately sealing their fate and sending Houston to the national title game.
Houston executed flawlessly in the final moments, scoring eight points in a dramatic 33 seconds while preventing Duke from scoring at all.
The two teams came into this matchup boasting impressive winning streaks—Houston’s now stands at 18 games, while Duke’s impressive run was halted at 15.
Flagg led all scorers with 27 points, yet his missed shot in the closing seconds is likely to haunt him as he contemplates his future in college basketball.
Houston will face off against Florida in the national championship game on Friday night.
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