Houston Stuns Duke in Final Four Comeback Thriller

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Houston Cougars overcame a nine-point deficit in the final 125 seconds to defeat the Duke Blue Devils 68-67, advancing to the national championship game on April 5, 2025.

After the game, guard Milos Uzan reflected on the Cougars’ journey and their aspirations for the tournament. “We set goals for ourselves early in the year and a national championship was one of them,” Uzan said. His perspective stems from a previous season at Oklahoma, where he learned from Houston coach Kelvin Sampson about the team’s lofty ambitions. “The first thing when we got on the phone, he told me a lot of teams are trying to get into the tournament; we’re trying to win it,” Uzan added.

Guard Terrance Arceneaux praised the team’s resilience, referencing their nail-biting victories against Gonzaga and Purdue in the preceding rounds. “If this keeps happening, I feel like this is the year for us,” he stated.

Houston’s remarkable late-game surge included a critical 9-0 run that intensified in the final moments against a Duke team that had dominated much of the game. The Cougars, who had not been able to secure a Final Four win in their previous six appearances, defied expectations as they rallied from behind.

Sampson noted the evolution of his team’s culture over the season: “It took us a while to become who we are. At some point, if you have a culture, quitting is not part of the deal.” This culture shone through in their determination to turn the game around in its closing stages.

J’Wan Roberts, a key player in the victory and a veteran member of the team, spoke on the pressure of the moment. “Everyone has an opinion. They can say what they want to say. When you put 40 minutes on the clock and you put Houston against whoever, they’re going to get our best shot,” Roberts asserted.

Duke led for most of the match, powered by Cooper Flagg, who scored 27 points. With less than a minute remaining, Duke found themselves still leading 67-60 before the momentum shifted dramatically toward Houston. The crucial moments included an Emanuel Sharp three-pointer and key turnovers by the Blue Devils, allowing the Cougars to take the lead at 68-67 with mere seconds left on the clock.

Coach Jon Scheyer of Duke acknowledged the disappointment of the loss, stating, “You go from some of the most special moments in the tournament to the most heartbreaking loss. It’s heartbreaking. It’s incredibly disappointing.”

In stark contrast, the Cougars celebrated their historic victory, preparing for a national championship showdown against Florida, who also advanced after overcoming Auburn earlier that day. Sampson’s squad will face a Gators team eager to add another championship trophy to their history.

Roberts, who delivered under pressure at the free-throw line late in the game, demonstrated the results of Houston’s rigorous training regimen. “Even though we only lost four games all year, the free throw line impacted two of those,” Sampson explained. “We had our kids make 150 free throws seven days a week.” Roberts’s calmness under pressure at the charity stripe proved crucial to the win.

Houston now stands on the cusp of fulfilling their championship aspirations, with the national title match set to challenge the Gators’ run and continue Houston’s quest for recognition in NCAA history.