Houston just pulled off a heartbreaker in style. The Cougars trailed by 14 points but mounted a comeback when it mattered most, taking down the Duke Blue Devils 70–67.
LJ Cryer was outstanding, scoring 26 points and knocking down six 3-pointers. J’Wan Roberts capped the rally with two free throws in the final 19 seconds. While the Cougars celebrated, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer was left stunned—and his postgame reaction said it all.
Jon Scheyer Heartbroken After the Loss Against Houston
Jon Scheyer stood in disbelief as the final buzzer sounded. In just his third year as head coach, he’s already made history—becoming one of only three people to both play and coach in a Final Four for the same school. But none of that eased the sting.
Jon Scheyer:
“It was a special ride that ended in a heartbreaking way…It’s heartbreaking, it’s incredibly disappointing. There’s a lot of pain that comes with this, that’s what the Tournament is all about.” https://t.co/boMrzZVGDg
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 6, 2025
“It was a special ride that ended in a heartbreaking way,” Scheyer said. “It’s heartbreaking, it’s incredibly disappointing. There’s a lot of pain that comes with this. That’s what the tournament is all about.”
For much of the night, it looked like Duke was in control. Cooper Flagg dazzled, Tyrese Proctor dictated tempo, and Kon Knueppel added a trio of 3-pointers. With just two minutes remaining, Duke led by nine.
Then came the collapse.
Houston closed with a 9–0 run in the final 40 seconds. Roberts hit two free throws to give the Cougars their first lead since the 14-minute mark of the first half. Joseph Tugler followed with a dunk, and Emanuel Sharp delivered the dagger—a step-back 3-pointer over Sion James.
Meanwhile, Duke went the final 7 minutes and 20 seconds without a field goal.
Earlier in the second half, the Blue Devils seemed locked in. Flagg hit a 3 off a pass from James and swatted a hook shot by Tugler into the stands. After Proctor made a free throw and Flagg floated in another basket, Duke pushed the lead to 14.
Even in the first half, Duke looked sharp. The Blue Devils opened with an 11-point lead. But Houston’s response started before the break. Cryer hit three 3-pointers, and Sharp buried a deep 25-footer—momentum that carried into the second half.
It ended with Duke walking off the court in silence.
MORE: Top 5 Largest Comebacks in Final Four History Now Include Duke Heavily
Scheyer, like his players, now faces the weight of a game that was within reach. And sometimes, the hardest losses are the ones that come closest to a win.
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