Houston, Florida Reach National Championship Game After Final Four Victories

In a thrilling Final Four matchup, the Houston Cougars stunned the Duke Blue Devils with a dramatic 70-67 comeback victory, marking Houston's first national championship game appearance in nearly 40 years. Duke seemed to have the game under control, leading by 14 points in the second half, but Houston's late surge, fueled by key plays from J'Wan Roberts and a critical turnover by Duke, turned the tide. Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida to the championship game as well, scoring 34 points to secure a 79-73 win against Auburn. Analysts highlighted Duke's inability to finish down the stretch, particularly criticizing their five turnovers in the final ten minutes. Former Duke player Jay Williams noted that Houston's fierce defense was a decisive factor in the game. The championship game will see Houston face Florida on Monday night, promising an exciting showdown.