John Fanta
School Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter
Kelvin Sampson raised his arms into the air. LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp jumped for pleasure off the hardwood. Jim Nantz set free tears of pleasure within the stands.
The Houston Cougars delivered one of many all-time best comebacks in NCAA Match historical past on Saturday night time on the Alamodome, holding Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils to 1 area purpose within the ultimate 10:31 en path to a surprising 70-67 come-from-behind win.
Sampson’s crew relied on their top-ranked protection and well timed capturing to outscore Duke 11-1 over the ultimate 1:26 of the sport, incomes a Monday night time date with the Florida Gators within the nationwide championship recreation.
“Nobody ever loses at something so long as you do not give up,” Sampson stated in a postgame interview. “While you give up, then I do not care, you’ve got misplaced.”
Duke held a 14-point lead with simply over eight minutes remaining within the recreation and the vibe contained in the Alamodome was certainly one of future for the Blue Devils. Flagg appeared like he was poised to steer his Duke crew to a spot within the title recreation.
After which, all the pieces modified.
Cryer, a fifth-year senior who transferred after three years at Baylor, engineered six straight factors that began with a triple. After one other cease, J’Wan Roberts minimize the result in six, after which JoJo Tugler had a putback to cut the result in 4. In simply over three minutes, the Cougars had been again – or so it appeared prefer it.
Flagg hit a triple with 3:03 remaining to push the Blue Devils’ result in 9. After a bucket from Emanuel Sharp, the groups traded free throws and Duke was up seven with 1:26 on the clock.
“I stated to our group, ‘do not foul!'” Sampson stated in his opening assertion following the win. “It is so much simpler to shut out a win while you’re up 20. It is so much more durable while you’re up three or 4.”
With the Blue Devils holding onto a 67-61 lead with simply over 40 seconds remaining, Tugler got here up with a blocked shot and Sharp drilled a desperation triple from the precise wing to chop it down to 3 factors. The following sequence is when the scales tipped, as Sion James’ inbounds move was stolen by Mylik Wilson. Tugler slammed dwelling a putback dunk to chop the result in one.
Duke guard Tyrese Proctor, a 69% free-throw shooter, stepped to the free-throw line and was lengthy on the primary try. Flagg tried to seize the rebound however was referred to as for an over-the-back foul.
Roberts, a 63% free-throw shooter who has been capturing 150 free throws each night time for the final week, in accordance with Sampson, drained each free throws to place the Cougars up 68-67 with 19 seconds remaining.
“That was a second the place arduous work pays off,” Sampson stated of Roberts’ free throws.
Duke referred to as timeout and drew a play up for Flagg, however the celebrity freshman missed a step-back jumper within the lane. Cryer went on to hit a pair of free throws and a desperation heave by Proctor was lengthy because the celebration was on for the Cougars.
“I hear what folks say. ‘Duke this. Duke that.’ Duke’s nice. Jon Scheyer is superior. However do not sleep on Houston,” Sampson stated. “We weren’t 34-4 taking part in within the Toy Poodle League.”
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Discipline of 68 Media Community. Comply with him at @John_Fanta.
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