Helena Frye
Duke's 70-67 loss to Houston in the Final Four was a stunning and epic collapse, with the Blue Devils leading by 14 points with 8:15 left in the game. The loss has left the team and its fans in a state of shocked silence, with players like Cooper Flagg devastated and emotional. The game was full of controversial calls, including a foul called against Flagg that led to Houston's J'Wan Roberts making two free throws and taking the lead. Duke's season ends with 35 wins and 4 losses, and the team will now head back to Durham as Houston and Florida face off for the national championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the game | April 6, 2025 |
| Teams | Duke Blue Devils vs Houston Cougars |
| Final score | 70-67 to Houston |
| Lead at largest | Duke led by 14 points |
| Time left with largest lead | 8:15 left in the game |
| Time of final lead | 35 seconds left in the game |
| Player with most points | Cooper Flagg with 27 points |
| Player with second-most points | Unclear, but possibly J'Wan Roberts |
| Outcome | Duke's fifth-biggest loss in Final Four history |
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What You'll Learn
Cooper Flagg's missed 12-foot jumper
Duke's loss to Houston in the Final Four was a stunning and unexpected defeat, with the Blue Devils leading by as many as 14 points at one stage. In the final moments of the game, Duke's star freshman, Cooper Flagg, had a critical role. With 19.6 seconds left, Flagg was called for a controversial foul on Houston's J'Wan Roberts, who then took the lead with two successful free throws.
Flagg then had a chance to turn the game around for Duke. With 17 seconds left, he pulled up for a 12-foot jumper, an isolation play designed by the coach, with the Blue Devils clearing out to give him space. Flagg, who stands at 6'8" with a 7-foot wingspan, is known for his dynamic offensive abilities and impressive athleticism. He pulled up from inside the lane, fading away from Roberts, who is 6-foot-8. Unfortunately for Duke, the shot caromed off the front rim, and Houston took possession.
This missed jumper was a pivotal moment in the game, as it left Duke trailing by one point, and Houston capitalized on the opportunity, scoring the final nine points in 33 seconds to win 70-67. The loss was a bitter pill for Duke, leaving them stunned and silent in the locker room, as they reflected on squandering a significant lead in the closing seconds of the game.
Despite this missed shot, Cooper Flagg is still considered a highly talented player. He was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, joining the Dallas Mavericks. While his debut saw him miss several shots, his promise extends beyond scoring, with his ability to stuff the stat sheet and make dynamic plays on both ends of the court.
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Houston's two free throws
Duke's loss to Houston in the Final Four was a stunning collapse for the Blue Devils, who had led by as much as 14 points with just over eight minutes remaining in the second half. However, Houston's smothering defense and game-changing steals in the final minutes of the game turned the tide in their favour, setting the stage for Houston's two pivotal free throws.
With the score at 67-66 in Duke's favour and only 19.6 seconds left in the game, Houston's J'Wan Roberts was fouled by Duke's Cooper Flagg, sending him to the foul line for two shots. This foul was deemed controversial and hotly debated, as Flagg was whistled for appearing to hold down Roberts' left arm. As a 63% free throw shooter, the pressure was on Roberts to deliver for his team.
Roberts sunk both his free throws, giving Houston a 68-67 lead and their first advantage since the early stages of the game. This crucial play shifted the momentum decisively towards Houston, leaving Duke reeling and scrambling to respond. Flagg, Duke's star freshman, had a chance to redeem himself after the foul but missed a jumper that would have put his team ahead once more.
Houston's resilience and discipline in the face of adversity proved to be the difference-maker, as they closed out the game with a 9-0 run in the final 33 seconds. This stunning comeback punched their ticket to the national championship game, while Duke was left to rue their missed opportunities and reflect on an epic meltdown.
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Duke's last-gasp final possession
Duke's last-gasp attempt to salvage their Final Four game against Houston on Saturday night ended in a stunning collapse, leaving the team in stunned silence. With less than 20 seconds left, Duke squandered a six-point lead, making a series of mistakes that allowed Houston to make an incredible comeback.
In the final moments of the game, Duke's star freshman Cooper Flagg had a chance to secure a win for his team. With 17 seconds left, Flagg, in an isolation matchup with Houston's J'Wan Roberts, pulled up for a 12-foot jumper but missed, with the ball caroming off the front rim. This play will forever be replayed, as it represented a crucial turning point.
Flagg's miss was followed by a controversial foul call against him, as he appeared to hold down Roberts' left arm. This sent Roberts to the foul line, where he calmly sank both free throws, giving Houston a 68-67 lead. Duke's final possession ended with a desperate three-point attempt to tie the game and force overtime, but it was not meant to be, as the Blue Devils fell short, losing 70-67.
The loss was devastating for Duke, who had led by as many as 14 points and had their sights set on a national title. The team was left reeling, struggling to process the emotional spiral that comes with such a narrow defeat. The sound of a slamming door in the locker room echoed the resounding loss, a stark contrast to the jubilant atmosphere Houston celebrated.
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Duke's fifth-biggest lead in Final Four history
Duke University's basketball team, the Blue Devils, suffered a shocking 70-67 loss to the Houston Cougars in the Final Four, ending their historic season. This loss marked the fifth-biggest lead in Final Four history, with Duke leading by as much as 14 points at one stage of the game.
The Cougars' resilient performance and Duke's series of mishaps in the final minutes sealed the Blue Devils' fate. Star freshman Cooper Flagg's foul and subsequent missed 12-foot jumper with 17 seconds left will be remembered as pivotal moments. J'Wan Roberts, a 63% free-throw shooter, capitalized on the opportunity, sinking both ends of the one-and-one to give Houston a 68-67 lead.
The Blue Devils' offense struggled in the second half, enduring two extended droughts without a field goal. Houston's defense, ranked No. 1 in the tournament, shone as they held Duke to just one made field goal in the final 10:30. The Cougars' 11-1 run in the last 1:14 of the second half secured their place in the national championship game.
The loss left the Duke locker room in stunned silence, with players and staff alike reeling from the emotional spiral of losing a six-point lead in the final 35 seconds. The defeat will undoubtedly linger long into the offseason, marking a bitter end to a season that held so much promise for the Blue Devils.
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Houston's national championship game
The Houston Cougars' 2025 NCAA basketball season ended in disappointment as they fell to the Florida Gators 65-63 in the National Championship game. This was the Cougars' first appearance in the National Championship game since 1984.
The Cougars had reached the final by defeating the Duke Blue Devils 70-67 in a thrilling comeback victory during the Final Four round. Houston entered the game as the No. 1-ranked defence, and they showed why during the game, holding the Blue Devils to just one made field goal in the final 10:30. With 19.6 seconds left in the game, Duke's Proctor missed a free throw, and a controversial foul call on Blue Devils star freshman Cooper Flagg sent J'Wan Roberts to the line, who made both his free throws to give Houston the lead. Flagg then missed a jumper that would have given Duke the lead, and the Cougars held on for the win.
The Cougars' run to the National Championship game was an impressive feat, as they had to overcome a historic season by Duke, ending it with a record of 35-4 overall for the Blue Devils, their most wins in a single season since 2021-22. Houston's victory over Duke was also notable as it was only the fifth-biggest lead squandered in Final Four history, with Duke leading by as many as 14 points.
Houston's appearance in the National Championship game was built on a strong defensive foundation, as they held their opponents to just 34.8% shooting, including 6-of-25 from 3-point range. The Cougars also had a record-breaking season, finishing with 19 wins in conference play and a program single-season record of 35 wins. This was their seventh appearance in the Final Four, and they had not won a national championship before in the history of the competition.
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Frequently asked questions
Houston won the game 70-67.
Houston scored the game's final nine points in 33 seconds. Duke's Tyrese Proctor missed a free throw, and J'Wan Roberts made two free throws after a controversial foul was called against Cooper Flagg.
The Duke locker room was filled with stunned silence and dejection. Players stared at their phones to avoid eye contact with the media. Head coach Jon Scheyer said, "You go from some of the most special moments in the tournament to the most heartbreaking loss."
