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Houston completes improbable rally from 14-point deficit in taking down Duke
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Saturday’s Final Four action in San Antonio did not disappoint, though the nightcap between Duke and Houston slowly ground down into a hard-fought defensive struggle. It was a game controlled by the Blue Devils throughout, though things became uncomfortable in the 2nd half.
After building a 6-point lead at halftime, Duke had seemingly grabbed complete control of the game with a 14-point lead and just over 8 minutes to play. Houston had other ideas, mounting a 10-0 run with LJ Cryer delivering 6 points in that stretch to close the gap to 4.
It was at that point that the Blue Devils appeared to halt the comeback. A quick 5-0 run punctuated by a massive 3-point field goal from Cooper Flagg pushed the lead back to 9 points at the 3-minute mark.
At that point, it felt like Duke’s inevitable victory was in grasp, but that would not be the case. The Blue Devils struggled to inbound the ball against Houston’s pressure over the final 3 minutes, and the Cougars began to chip away.
Somehow, Houston rolled to a 15-3 finish over the final 3 minutes of the game to erase the deficit and secure a 70-67 win in a comeback for the ages. Houston ended the game on a 9-0 run, and the Blue Devils failed to register a field goal over the final 3 minutes of action.
The star, unsurprisingly, in this one was Flagg with his complete game on display all game long. He led Duke with 27 points and delivered 3 made 3-pointers while adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists. True to form, Flagg was also a difference-maker on the defensive end of the court. He had 3 blocks and 2 steals, proving to be a rim protector of the highest order.
Unfortunately, Flagg would also be whistled for a crucial over-the-back foul that gave Houston the free-throw attempts to take the lead inside a minute. His shot at a go-ahead basket in the final 20 seconds would also be short off the front rim.
Neither team was particularly efficient from the floor in a true defensive struggle, but it was Houston who was especially dreadful from the floor. LJ Cryer led the Cougars with 26 points and an impressive 6-for-9 effort from 3-point range. However, Houston finished the game with a horrific 38% effort from the floor.
Cryer’s shooting, especially from deep, was the only thing to keep the Cougars alive for much of the game. In fact, Houston was much more efficient from long range (10-for-22 for 48%) than from inside the arc.
With Houston’s improbable comeback, Monday’s national title game is set, and Florida opens as a 1-point favorite via DraftKings. Tip-off on Monday is set for 8:50 pm ET on CBS, and it should be another dandy to end the season!
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
