Houston Stuns Duke with Historic Comeback in Final Four

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — In a thrilling display of determination and skill, the Houston Cougars achieved a remarkable comeback against the Duke Blue Devils, winning 70-67 in the NCAA men’s national championship semifinal on Saturday night at the Alamodome. Houston, which trailed by 14 points with just over eight minutes remaining, closed the game with a 15-3 run, earning a spot in the championship game for the first time since 1984.

The Cougars will face the Florida Gators in the title game on Monday. Houston’s victory marks a stunning turnaround after the Blue Devils appeared poised to secure their chance at another national title, leading comfortably late in the second half.

“It ain’t over because they still got time on the clock,” said Houston guard LJ Cryer, who led the Cougars with 26 points, expressing the team’s resilience throughout the game. The momentum shifted drastically in the final minutes as Houston’s defense tightened and their offense surged.

Despite Duke extending its lead to nine points with 3:03 remaining, Houston staged a furious response. Following a key three-pointer by Cryer, the Cougars capitalized on defensive lapses from Duke, converting critical possessions into points. A pivotal moment came when Houston’s rebounder, J’Wan Roberts, made two free throws to give the Cougars their first lead since early in the game.

“No one ever loses at anything as long as you don’t quit,” Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson stated postgame, attributing his team’s success to their never-give-up mentality. With this victory, Sampson has led the Cougars to their first national championship game of the NCAA era, adding another significant chapter to the program’s history.

Duke’s failure to close out the game has raised questions about their late-game execution, as they made only one field goal in the last ten minutes. “We could talk about not scoring down the stretch,” said Duke coach Jon Scheyer. “But to me, it’s our defense that ultimately let us down.”

Top scorer, Duke’s Cooper Flagg, lamented the missed opportunities: “I took a contested shot that just didn’t fall. It’s a shot I’m willing to live with, but it’s disappointing to lose this way.” Flagg’s performance had been crucial in maintaining the Blue Devils’ lead before the late-game collapse.

The game itself was a showcase of the storied rivalry and rich history of NCAA basketball comebacks. Houston’s feat, while incredible, doesn’t set the record for the largest comeback in NCAA history, which belongs to Duke itself, who once came back from a 22-point deficit in the 2001 Final Four against Maryland.

As the Cougars prepare for the championship game, their victory over Duke is expected to resonate through college basketball history, further igniting fan passion and anticipation for the upcoming contest against Florida. “We’ve overcome a lot this season, and we’re ready to give it everything we have for the championship,” Cryer noted.