SAN ANTONIO — Who mentioned this NCAA Event lacked drama?
Saturday night time produced one of the crucial memorable finishes in latest March Insanity reminiscence.
Cooper Flagg and mighty Duke, the favorites of this No. 1-seeded Ultimate 4, are going dwelling early.
Houston pulled a shocker, rallying from 14 down over the ultimate 8:17 to advance to Monday night time’s nationwide championship with a riveting 70-67 victory over the freshmen-led Blue Devils at a buzzing Alamodome.
J’Wan Roberts’ two free throws with 19.6 seconds left gave the Cougars the lead for good and after Flagg missed within the lane, LJ Cryer sank two extra from the charity stripe.
Tyrese Proctor’s desperation heave didn’t come shut and Houston gamers ran everywhere in the ground celebrating the hard-to-believe victory.
It would meet Florida on Monday night time with an opportunity to win the college’s first nationwide championship.
“I imply, it ain’t over as a result of they nonetheless acquired time on the clock,” Cryer mentioned. “So long as there’s time on the clock, we’re going on the market and giving it our all.”
For a lot of the night time, it seemed like Duke and its projected lottery choose freshmen have been headed to the ultimate.
They have been up double digits. Flagg was in command.
However, Houston by no means let go of the rope. It stored on chipping away, even when it felt prefer it was destined to fall quick.
Emanuel Sharp’s 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds to go made it a single possession recreation for the primary time within the second half, and Houston stole the inbounds cross.
Joseph Tugler’s tip dunk reduce it to at least one and Proctor missed the entrance finish of a 1-and-1 on the different finish. Flagg went over the again, sending Roberts to the road.
“As soon as we get the [lead to] three, now there’s recreation stress,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson mentioned. “It’s quite a bit simpler to complete the sport when you’ve gotten a 20 [point lead].”
Roberts, a fifth-year senior, was a 62.5 p.c free-throw shooter, although that was up from 51.1 p.c the yr earlier than.
In Duke’s Candy 16 victory over Houston final March, he missed 5 of eight tries. He calmly made each, then pressured Flagg right into a troublesome shot.
“To let you know the trustworthy fact, going as much as the free-throw line, I wasn’t actually nervous in any respect simply due to the work that I put in, simply believing in it and trusting myself,” mentioned Roberts, who had 11 factors, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
Houston’s top-ranked protection, its calling card, flipped the sport. Duke (35-4) managed only one made subject aim over the ultimate 10:31 and eight factors over the past 8:17.
The Cougars (35-4) manhandled them on the glass by 11, turning 18 offensive rebounds into 19 second probability factors.
Cryer had 26 factors to steer Houston and Sharp added 16. Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 choose in June’s NBA draft, notched 27 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists, three blocks and two steals.
“I’m heartbroken for a workforce that did every little thing for 38-39 minutes and got here up quick,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “That’s the factor that kills me essentially the most.”
Up six on the half, Duke stretched the result in 14 with 11:54 to go.
It seemed prefer it was on its method to a fourth double digit victory in 5 match video games. Houston wouldn’t lay down, ripping off a 10-0 run to get inside 4.
It had an opportunity to get even nearer, however Cryer missed a mid-range jumper, Proctor hit two free throws and Flagg nailed a 3-pointer.
He then swatted a Tugler layup try out of bounds. It felt like that had snuffed out the rally.
Houston, clearly, had different concepts.
“I mentioned the identical factor after we beat Gonzaga: You’re not simply beating workforce, you’re beating an unbelievable program,” Sampson mentioned.
