On Saturday night Houston and Duke played in a March Madness classic.
The Cougars took down the Blue Devils, 70-67, in the Final Four to earn a spot in the national championship game. It was a tight game that got crazy at the end, as Duke blew a seven-point lead with 1:26 left thanks in part to a questionable foul on Cooper Flagg and a missed go-ahead jumper from the prospective No. 1 pick.
It was a truly shocking end to Duke's season after they were in control of the game most of Saturday night. The Blue Devils didn't just crumble in the last few minutes; they had a 14-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining and failed to close the door at several points. They recorded only one made field goal in the final 10 minutes.
It was a brutal loss for the Blue Devils faithful and the sports world couldn't believe just how badly they fell apart down the stretch with a spot in the title game on the line.
And Cooper Flagg’s college career is over after Duke blows a 14-point lead with 8:17 remaining.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 6, 2025
Unreal. pic.twitter.com/eCCykLpgJ5
Duke blew a 6 point lead in 30 seconds??? pic.twitter.com/WGufhosUSl
— Barry Tealer (@BarryBucketz) April 6, 2025
FINAL: HOUSTON 70, DUKE 67
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 6, 2025
The Blue Devils had this game in control pretty much the entire way, but unable to throw the knockout blow.
The nastiest choke in NCAA history. Lol
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) April 6, 2025
Duke completely choked down the stretch. Dominated the entire game and then just fell apart in the last 90 seconds.
— AG (@AGHamilton29) April 6, 2025
That was an all-time collapse by Duke. Historically bad choke job.
— Scott Reichel (@ReichelRadio) April 6, 2025
11-1 run in the final 74 seconds. 9-0 run in the last 33 seconds.
Incredible. pic.twitter.com/3x02mVF066
Houston goes on an 11-1 run over the last 1:14 to stun Duke.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) April 6, 2025
Duke made two field goals in the final 13 minutes and none in the final three minutes. pic.twitter.com/LmxFJPLhuY
Duke tonight pic.twitter.com/fWOsk12mUK
— Fliff (@fliff) April 6, 2025
That second-half pressure had Duke playing like their Wi-Fi went out.
— Devin Debugs (@devindebugs) April 6, 2025
Respect to Houston—they earned this one.
Duke made one shot from the floor in the last 10:30 of the game. We'll live a long time and never see another meltdown of this magnitude. Inexcusable
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) April 6, 2025
ABSOLUTE CLUTCHNESS BY HOUSTON
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) April 6, 2025
ABSOLUTE CHOKENESS BY DUKE
DUKE IS COOKED
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2025
What a collapse by Duke. They had this one and just fell apart.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) April 6, 2025
What a night of Final Four competition.
More March Madness on Sports Illustrated
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fans React to Duke Blowing Late Lead to Houston in Wild Final Four Game .
