It was only fitting that in a game as tightly contested as No. 1 Duke versus No. 1 Houston deciding a winner would come down to the final seconds.
The only problem is that last-second ending wasn’t without controversy.
Holding a 67-66 lead with just 19 seconds left, Duke guard Tyrese Proctor stepped to the foul line for a 1-and-1 and a chance to put the game on ice. Proctor missed his free-throw attempt, and on the rebound, Duke freshman Cooper Flagg went up for the rebound behind Houston forward J’Wan Roberts but ended up drawing a foul.
The officiating crew was criticized immediately for what many believed was a bad call, and Flagg’s facial expression immediately after being flagged drew quite the response on social media, with many fans sharing Flagg’s shock.
“Worst foul call in history. Terrible. Gives Houston a free lead. Absolutely terrible,” another fan remarked.
“One of the worst calls in sports history ngl,” declared one user.
“Refs had an agenda with that call,” another quipped.
“Refs thinking these moments are about them. Horrible call,” proclaimed another fan.
“COOPER. SPEECHLESS. FLAGG,” one fan wrote.
“Terrible call gave Houston game and I don’t even like Duke,” another user replied.
Roberts knocked down both of his free-throw attempts, pushing Houston ahead 68-67 and forcing Duke into desperation mode.
After a Blue Devils timeout, Flagg missed a jumper with eight seconds left, forcing Procter to foul L.J Cryer, who hit both of his free throws as well, giving Houston a 70-67 lead with three seconds left, which stood as the final score.
With the loss, Duke falls one win shy of playing for its first national championship since 2015. The win sends Houston to the third national championship game in school history. The Cougars finished as national runners-up in its previous two attempts.
