SAN ANTONIO – Who stated this NCAA Event lacked upsets?
Saturday evening produced a whopper.
Cooper Flagg and mighty Duke, the favorites of this No. 1-seeded Last 4, are going dwelling early.
Houston pulled a shocker, rallying from 14 down within the ultimate 8:17 to advance to Monday evening’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 made two extra.
Tyrese Proctor’s desperation heave didn’t come shut and Houston gamers ran all around the ground celebrating the dramatic victory.
For a lot of the evening, it seemed like Duke and its projected lottery decide freshmen had been headed to the ultimate.
They had been in management. However, Houston by no means let go of the rope. It saved on chipping away.
Emanuel Sharp’s 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds to go make it a single possession recreation for the primary time within the second half, and Houston stole the inbounds move.
Joseph Tugler’s tip dunk reduce it to 1 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.
Cryer had 26 factors to guide Houston and Sharp added 16.
Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 decide in June’s NBA Draft for years, had 27 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists.
For a big portion of the primary half, Duke was treating Houston like its 4 earlier match opponents. It was smothering them on the defensive finish and getting simple seems to be on the different finish.
It was a 12-point lead late within the opening stanza, when Houston started to warmth up from deep.
It made its ultimate 3-point makes an attempt after beginning 2-of-8, and solely trailed by six at halftime, equaling Duke’s smallest lead on the break of the match.
The Cougars had been lucky to be shut, contemplating they shot 31 % from the sphere and had been minus-four within the turnover division.
Cryer was their finest participant, notching 12 factors and hitting three 3s.
The Duke freshmen had been predictably productive.
Knueppel had 12 factors and Flagg adopted with eight factors, 4 rebounds, two assists and two blocks because the Blue Devils greater than doubled Houston within the paint, 16-6.
Going again to the primary half, the Cougars hit 10 of 11 pictures, however they couldn’t reduce into the deficit.
Even when Duke missed, it made up for it on the offensive glass. Flagg began the second half by scoring inside and scored eight factors within the first 4:52 of the interval.
As soon as Houston lastly started to overlook, Duke stretched out the lead. It ballooned to 14 after Flagg went to the free throw line on back-to-back journeys with 11:54 left.
Houston ripped off a 10-0 run to get inside 4. It had an opportunity to get even nearer, however Cryer missed a mid-range jumper, Tyrese Proctor hit two free throws and Flagg hit a 3-pointer.
He then swatted a Tugler layup try out of bounds. It felt like that had snugged out the rally. Houston clearly had different concepts.
