Houston Cougars On SI

Houston edges Duke: Live score, updates, highlights from 2025 NCAA Final Four matchup

Cougars pull off late comeback to stun Duke; reach first NCAA title game since 1984
Buck Ringgold|
Houston's LJ Cryer (4) with teammates
Houston's LJ Cryer (4) with teammates | Isaiah J. Downing/Imagn Images

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Houston CougarsDuke Blue Devils

A year ago, Duke ended Houston's season with a victory in the Sweet 16.

Saturday, the Cougars get their shot at revenge, as they face the Blue Devils for the second straight postseason. This time, it's at the Final Four in San Antonio.

How to watch, stream Houston basketball vs. Duke in NCAA Final Four: TV, predictions

Both Houston (34-4) and Duke (35-3) have won 30 of its past 31 ballgames leading up to Saturday. The Cougars and Blue Devils also take respective win streaks of 17 and 15 straight games.

What Duke coach Jon Scheyer said on facing Houston: 'An amazing challenge'

Duke was ranked No. 1 and Houston No. 2 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches' polls going into the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Blue Devils knocked off the Cougars, 54-51, in a Sweet 16 game at Dallas.

Which Houston player was cited by Kelvin Sampson as potential X-factor in Final Four?

Houston is in its seventh Final Four and for the second time under coach Kelvin Sampson, also having went in 2021. With a win Saturday, the Cougars will be in their first national title game since 1984, playing on Monday night against Florida, which beat Auburn in the other semifinal on Saturday.

Kelvin Sampson appreciating Houston's latest Final Four trip much more this time

Follow Houston Cougars On SI writer Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from the Alamodome in San Antonio. Refresh for the latest score and live updates.

HOUSTON 70, DUKE 67 FINAL

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POSTGAME STATS AND ANALYSIS

- J'Wan Roberts had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Houston out-rebounded Duke, 42-31. Cooper Flagg finished with 27 points but Kon Knueppel, after scoring 12 points in the first half, was held to 4 after halftime.

- It will be Houston and Florida for the national title on Monday night. First trip to the title game for Houston since 1984.

- LJ Cryer had 26 points, and Emanuel Sharp 16 in the win for Houston. J'Wan Roberts added 11 points, including the game-winning free throws in the final seconds.

- An unreal comeback. Houston was down by 14 points. The Cougars were down by six with about 40 seconds left. Someway, somehow, they find a way to win.

SECOND HALF

- LJ CRYER WITH TWO FREE THROWS WITH 3.7 SECONDS LEFT. DUKE CAN'T GET OFF A 3-POINT ATTEMPT. WE WILL SEE YOU MONDAY NIGHT. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES ALIVE.

- COOPER FLAGG MISSES. MYLIK WILSON GETS THE REBOUND. HOUSTON GETS FOULED. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES ALIVE. (Houston, 68-67 | :03, 2nd)

- J'Wan Roberts sinks BOTH free throws. Houston HAS THE LEAD. (Houston, 68-67 | :19, 2nd)

- Duke misses the front end of a one-and-one, and Cooper Flagg is called for the foul. J'Wan Roberts to the line with a chance to give his team the lead.

- SLAM DUNK HOUSTON. Cougars force the turnover. LJ Cryer tries a 3 and misses it, but JoJo Tugler is THERE for the finish. (Duke, 67-66 | :25, 2nd)

- After the review, Duke retains possession.

- Kelvin Sampson believes Duke committed a five-seconds violation on the inbounds. (Duke, 67-64 | :31, 2nd)

- Emanuel Sharp has scored the last nine points for Houston and is up to 16 on the night.

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. NOT. DONE. YET. Emanuel Sharp knocks down a deep trey from the right wing, and it is now a one-possession game. (Duke, 67-64 | :32, 2nd)

- JoJo Tugler reaches over the baseline to smack away the ball on the inbounds, and is called for a technical foul. (Duke, 66-61 | 1:14, 2nd)

- Duke strugging to get an inbounds pass. Blue Devils take a time out and have one remaining. (Duke, 64-59 | 1:27, 2nd)

- Houston still hanging around. Emanuel Sharp drains two foul shots, and the Coogs are down five. (Duke, 64-59 | 1:27, 2nd)

- A back-breaking 3 from Cooper Flagg. Duke's lead back up to nine. (Duke, 64-55 | 2:45, 2nd)

- Duke breaks the 10-0 Houston run with free throws. (Duke, 61-55 | 3:44, 2nd)

- Chance for Houston to make it a one-possession game comes up empty. Duke with the ball at the final media time out. (Duke, 59-55 | 3:44, 2nd)

- Offensive rebound and tipback by JoJo Tugler. Four-point game now. (Duke, 59-55 | 4:50, 2nd)

- Milos Uzan back in with four fouls nearing the five-minute mark.

- 8-0 run now for Houston as J'Wan Roberts finishes off a reverse layup. (Duke, 59-53 | 5:35, 2nd)

- Houston is 9-of-19 shooting in the second half. (Duke, 59-51 | 6:26, 2nd)

- Houston on a 6-0 run and are down eight with less than seven minutes to go. (Duke, 59-51 | 6:55, 2nd)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. That's six now for LJ Cryer; Coogs now 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. (Duke, 59-48 | 7:58, 2nd)

- Four fouls now for Milos Uzan. J'Wan Roberts coming back into the game. (Duke, 59-45 | 8:17, 2nd)

- Break in the action, as Duke's Sion James lands hard off his head on the court. (Duke, 58-45 | 9:12, 2nd)

- Ja'Vier Francis now in foul trouble, with his third foul, sending Cooper Flagg to the line coming out of the media time out. (Duke, 54-42 | 11:54, 2nd)

- Milos Uzan just picked up his third foul. Duke is now up by double digits. (Duke, 54-42 | 12:38, 2nd)

- Houston is 6-of-8 from the field to start the second half. (Duke, 50-42 | 13:30, 2nd)

- JoJo Tugler picks up his third foul as Cooper Flagg converts a three-point play. (Duke, 44-36 | 16:09, 2nd)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. LJ Cryer is STILL ON FIRE. Five triples now. (Duke, 41-36 | 17:00, 2nd)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. LJ Cryer remains on fire. He has his fourth triple on the night and has 15. points. (Duke, 36-31 | 19:00, 2nd)

- The second half is about to get under way.

HALFTIME STATS AND ANALYSIS

- Houston has 22 rebounds to 17 for Duke. Cougars have nine offensive boards, compared to five for the Blue Devils. J'Wan Roberts has eight boards for the Coogs.

- LJ Cryer leads Houston with 12 points, going 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Kon Knueppel also has 12 to lead Duke on 4-of-6 shooting and 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

- Houston has made all three of its 3-point attempts to end the first half, allowing the Cougars to get within striking distance at the break. Coogs now 5-of-11 from 3 after starting 2-of-8. They're also 9-of-29 from the field (31%).

FIRST HALF

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Coogs starting to get some 3's to drop, as LJ Cryer gets another long-range shot to drop. (Duke, 34-28 | :25, 1st)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Milos Uzan finally gets on the board for Houston with a 3. Entering the last minute of the half. (Duke, 32-25 | 1:05, 1st)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. LJ Cryer with his second 3 on the night and leads the Cougars with 9 points. (Duke, 31-22 | 1:35, 1st)

- Milos Uzan back in the game for Houston.

- Houston is 2-of-8 from 3-point range and have made six turnovers to just two for Duke. Heading to the final media time out of the opening half. (Duke, 28-17 | 2:36, 1st)

- SLAM DUNK HOUSTON. Coogs snap an 8-0 Duke run as J'Wan Roberts takes it in strong. (Duke, 26-17 | 3:10, 1st)

- Milos Uzan out of the game with two fouls. LJ Cryer picking things up at the point. (Duke, 21-15 | 5:25, 1st)

- Houston now on a 6-0 run after a J'Wan Roberts putback off an offensive board. Duke calls time out. (Duke, 18-15 | 7:40, 1st)

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. Coogs with a huge bucket, as Emanuel Sharp launches a 35-footer. (Duke, 18-13 | 8:15, 1st)

- Houston still a bit off. J'Wan Roberts can't convert an easy layup, and then the Cougars turn it over with JoJo Tugler committing a foul. Kelvin Sampson takes a time out. (Duke, 16-9 | 10:47, 1st)

- JoJo Tugler is back in the game for Houston.

- Houston shooting 20% from the field thus far (3-of-15).

- LJ Cryer was fouled going into the first media time out eight minutes in. Cryer hits a free throw coming out of the time out, and now we'll take the second media time out, with Cryer going back to the line for his second shot coming out of the break. (Duke, 14-9 | 11:51, 1st)

- Duke was a little tight at the start but the Blue Devils are now on a 9-2 run, with Cooper Flagg hitting a 3 and slamming one home on another play. Finally the first media time out eight minutes in. (Duke, 14-8 | 11:51, 1st)

- Houston with five offensive rebounds already three minutes in.

- 3-POINTER HOUSTON. LJ Cryer gets things started with a triple. (Houston, 3-0 | 18:20, 1st)

- JoJo Tugler steps on a Duke player going for a rebound and will leave the game.

- Milos Uzan airballs a 3 from the corner on the game's first possession. (0-0 | 19:29, 1st)

- About to get things started here at the Alamodome.

PREGAME

- And now we are officially under way.

- Less than 10 minutes from tipping things off now.

- Starting lineups are in. Houston with its regular starting 5 of guards LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan, along with forwards J'Wan Roberts and Joseph Tugler. Duke going with 6-foot-9 freshman Cooper Flagg at forward, Tyrese Proctor at guard, Kon Knueppel at forward, Khaman Maluach at center and Sion James at another guard.

- Florida just beat Auburn, so the Gators will be in Monday night's championship game. Who will join them, Houston or Duke?

- Live from the Alamodome in San Antonio. We are here for the Final Four, and Houston is getting set to take on Duke.

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Buck Ringgold
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