University basketball fans were upset by a fault on Cooper Flagg at the end of the epic collapse of the Duke Blue Devils against the Houston Cougars in the Final Four on Saturday evening.
Duke turned free throws with 19.6 seconds to play in the match and up a point. The Tyrese Proctor goalkeeper’s shot left the edge and bounced towards Flagg. While the future NBA Pro was fighting with two Houston players for the ball, a referee whistled and called a loose fault on Flagg.
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Strong Duke Cooper Flagg reacts during the Houston match during the final semi-finals on Saturday April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP photo / Brynn Anderson)
I Wan Roberts made two free throws to put Houston on a point. Duke missed a few shots on the section and the cougars won the 70-67 match to qualify for the national championship.
Duke and the fans were incredulous.
“I have to give them a lot of credit for what they do every night they play,” said Flagg after the match. “We could have been a little more sharp on the section by performing certain things. In the end, you must also give them a lot of credit.”
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Duke’s Cooper Flagg wipped his face at a press conference after Duke lost to Houston in the national semi-final on Saturday April 5, 2025 in San Antonio. (AP photo / Eric Gay)
Houston closed the match on a 9-0 race in the last 33 seconds. Flagg had 27 points.
“Knowing how to enter this match that he was the player of the year, that he brought his team in the Final Four, we knew it would be difficult,” said Roberts.
Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer deplored the collapse
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s incredibly disappointing,” he said. “There is a lot of pain that comes with it. This is what the tournament is used for.”
I Wan Roberts de Houston, on the left, and Mylik Wilson celebrate against Duke during the national semi-finals, on Saturday April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP photo / Stephanie Scarbrough)
Houston will play in Florida in the title match. The cougars have never won a national championship.
