The Big 12 Conference is heading back to the NCAA Tournament National Championship Game for the first time since 2022 after the Houston Cougars came back to beat the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four 70-67 on Saturday night in San Antonio.
Houston ended the game on an 11-1 run in the final 1:14 of the game. The Cougars were trailing the Blue Devils 59-45 with just over eight minutes to play and finished the game on a 25-8 run to reach Monday night’s Championship game where they will meet the Florida Gators.
LJ Cryer led Houston with 26 points, while Emanuel Sharp added 16 on the night. J’Wan Roberts had 11 points, including the two free throws in the final 30 seconds that put Houston up 68-67.
Duke had a chance to win the game, but Cooper Flagg, who finished with 27 points, missed off the front rim in the final seconds. Duke’s foul led to two more made Houston free throws to seal the 70-67 victory.
The Houston Cougars entered the game looking to reach, and win, a National Championship for the first time in program history and the first time for a Big 12 team since Kansas in 2022. Coming into the game, Houston had the most Final Four appearances (seven) without a trip to the National Championship. That drought has come to an end.
Houston vs. Florida will tip off at 7:50 p.m. CT from San Antonio on Monday night for the National Championship.
