Late foul on Duke's Cooper Flagg sends social media into frenzy as Blue Devils fall in Final Four

College hoops fans were upset with a foul telephone connected Cooper Flagg precocious successful the Duke Blue Devils’ epic illness against the Houston Cougars successful the Final Four connected Saturday night.

Duke was shooting escaped throws with 19.6 seconds near successful the crippled and up 1 point. Guard Tyrese Proctor’s changeable went disconnected the rim and bounced toward Flagg. As the aboriginal NBA pro fought with 2 Houston players for the ball, a referee blew the whistle and called a loose-ball foul connected Flagg.

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Duke guardant Cooper Flagg reacts during the Houston crippled during the Final Four semifinals, Saturday, April 5, 2025, successful San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

J’Wan Roberts made 2 escaped throws to enactment Houston up 1 point. Duke missed a fewer shots down the agelong and the Cougars won the crippled 70-67 to beforehand to the nationalist championship.

Duke and fans were near successful disbelief.

"Got to springiness them a batch of recognition for what they bash each azygous nighttime they play," Flagg said aft the game. "We could person been a small spot much crisp down the agelong executing immoderate things. At the extremity of the day, you got to springiness them a batch of credit, arsenic well."

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Duke's Cooper Flagg wipes his look during a quality league aft Duke mislaid to Houston successful the nationalist semifinals, Saturday, April 5, 2025, successful San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Houston closed the crippled connected a 9-0 tally successful the last 33 seconds. Flagg had 27 points.

"Knowing going into that crippled that helium was the subordinate of the year, that helium brought his squad to the Final Four, we knew it would beryllium challenging," Roberts said.

Blue Devils caput manager Jon Scheyer lamented the collapse

"It’s heartbreaking, it’s incredibly disappointing," helium said. "There’s a batch of symptom that comes with this. That’s what the tourney is each about."

Houston's J'Wan Roberts, left, and Mylik Wilson observe against Duke during the nationalist semifinals, Saturday, April 5, 2025, successful San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

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Houston volition play Florida successful the rubric game. The Cougars person ne'er won a nationalist championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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