Duke looked all set to play for the national title in the NCAA men's tournament before an epic meltdown against Houston caused a heartbreaking loss.
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.
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Proctor missed the front end of the one-and-one, and then it got worse. On the rebound, Blue Devils superstar Cooper Flagg got called for a foul, immediately sending J'Wan Roberts to the line because Houston was in the bonus. Roberts made both to give his team the lead for the first time since the 14:42 mark of the first half.
In an NCAA Tournament classic, Houston produced a stunning late-game comeback to defeat Duke 70-67 Saturday night.
With the Blue Devils leading by one point and 20 seconds left in the second half, Cooper Flagg fouled Cougars forward J'Wan Roberts following a missed free throw. Roberts sunk both of his fouls shots to put Houston up by one, and a jumper from Flagg on Duke's ensuing possession fell short.
Saturday's second national semifinal showdown in San Antonio at the Final Four will see No. 1 seed Duke face No. 1 seed Houston in a rematch of last year's Sweet 16 clash won by the Blue Devils. Duke advanced to the Elite Eight last spring with a dramatic 54-51 win over the Cougars.
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Florida rallied to top Auburn and Houston stormed back for a win over Duke as March Madness reached the men’s Final Four in San Antonio.
The Blue Devils suffered a tough loss to Houston in a game in which they led for the majority of it. The final minute for the Blue Devils was one to forget; heck, the final 33 seconds was one to forget as Duke had a six-point lead that they saw dissipate in 15 seconds.