Duke vs. Houston live score, updates, highlights from 2025 Final Four basketball game

The Final Four is here, and it promises to have some heavyweight matchups.

While Florida and Auburn will battle in the first game, the second game features another powerhouse game between the best player in the country and the most consistent program over the last five years.

Duke has had a dream season, as Cooper Flagg has led the Blue Devils to a 35-3 record and a No. 1 seed in the East regional. Flagg has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, all three of which have led the team over the course of the season.

Besides Flagg, Duke’s other freshmen have also stepped up this year, as Kon Knueppel is one of the best shooters in the country while Khaman Maluach is a defensive stalwart. Rounding out Duke’s starting five are two veterans in junior guard Tyrese Proctor and transfer Sion James.

On the other side, Houston is back in the Final Four for the second time in five years, but for the first time in three-straight years as a No. 1 seed. The Cougars won the Big 12 and are 34-4 entering this game, which helped them earn the No. 1 seed in the Midwest regional.

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Houston’s best player is LJ Cryer, as the Baylor transfer has 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Cryer won the national championship with Baylor in 2021 and is looking to become the first player to win two national titles with two different programs.

The Cougars also have two dangerous three-point shooters in juniors Milos Uzan and Emmaniel Sharp, both of whom have averaged double-digit points per game. However, Houston is known for it’s tough and physical defense, led by Big 12 defensive player of the year Joseph Tugler and veteran guard J’Wan Roberts.

If Houston wins, they will be playing in the national final for the third time in program history, but are still looking for their first title. Duke, meanwhile, is trying to win it all for their sixth championship.

The Sporting News is tracking live scores, updates and highlights from the Final Four matchup between Duke and Houston.

MORE: Watch Duke vs. Houston live with Fubo (free trial)

Duke vs. Houston live scoreSN’s MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

Duke vs. Houston highlights from 2025 Final Four10:50 p.m.: A pair of Duke threes has this lead back up to eight. Knueppel and Flagg have combined for 31 of the Blue Devils’ 50 points.

10:45 p.m.: LJ Cryer’s 18 points are keeping Houston in this game. Duke is only up five but Cryer has half of Houston’s points.

10:41 p.m.: The second half is underway! Duke opens the half with a goaltending basket to make the lead eight points.

Halftime: Duke 34, Houston 2810:19 p.m.: Another LJ Cryer three means the score at halftime is 34-28. The Cougars have made just nine field goals but five are from downtown, while Duke is shooting just 41 percent from the field.

10:17 p.m.: Uzan is back in the game and makes his first shot of the game, a three to make it a seven-point game.

10:15 p.m.: Flagg extends Duke’s lead up to 12 on a three-point play. However, Cryer comes right back with a three of his own.

10:09 p.m.: At the under-four, Duke has an 11-point lead. Knueppel has 12 and is the only player to make two threes in the game so far.

10:07 p.m.: Houston’s offense is in the mud as Milos Uzan is in early foul trouble.

10:05 p.m.: Maluach ends Duke’s scoring drought with an and-1 dunk, putting the Blue Devils back up by six.

9:58 p.m.: All of a sudden, the Cougars are on a 6-0 run, thanks to Emanuel Sharp and J’Wan Roverts, to shrink Duke’s lead to three at a timeout.

9:56 p.m.: Houston is struggling to score on Duke’s defense as the Blue Devils have ballooned their lead to 18-9.

9:50 p.m.: Duke has given Houston it’s largest deficit of the tournament with a 16-9 lead about halfway through the first half.

9:45 p.m.: Looks like Tugler is going to re-enter the game after the break.

9:42 p.m.: Duke is up 14-8 after over four minutes of whistle-free action. Houston is just 3-15 from the Field while Flagg an Knueppel have combined for 12.

9:37 p.m.: Cooper Flagg’s first points are on a three-pointer. Duke is up 8-6, and Kon Knueppel has five early.

9:34 p.m.: Joseph Tugler is forced out early with an injury, he’s on the bike on the sidelines staying warm.

9:31 p.m.: LJ Cryer scores the first points of teh game on a three.

9:28 p.m.: We are underway from San Antonio! Houston wins the tip.

9:19 p.m.: Meanwhile, here is who will be starting for the Blue Devils.

Proctor
James
Knueppel
Flagg
Maluach

Duke’s Final Four starters

— TheDevilsDen.com (@TheDevilsDen) April 6, 20259:08 p.m.: Here’s who Houston will be starting against Duke:

— Houston Men’s Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) April 6, 20258:45 p.m.: Duke vs. Houston will tip off at around 9:28 p.m. ET.

8:43 p.m.: Florida has defeated Auburn, so the winner of this game will play the Gators on Monday night.

8:16 p.m.: With the Auburn-Florida game looking like it’s going late, Duke-Houston’s tip time will likely be delayed.

7:52 p.m.: Both teams have arrived at the Alamodome.

Cooper Flagg and @DukeMBB have arrived ahead of their showdown against Houston 😈#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/vZOXzUU7De

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 5, 2025The Cougars are #MFinalFour ready 🤩#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/DtmUcufTXh

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 5, 20257:32 p.m.: These two teams enter the game as the two best KenPom teams in the past decade of college basketball.

Here are the six highest-rated teams from the last decade of college basketball, per KenPom.

1. 2025 Duke (Final Four)
2. 2025 Houston (Final Four)
3. 2024 UConn
4. 2021 Gonzaga
5. 2025 Florida (Final Four)
6. 2025 Auburn (Final Four

— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) March 30, 20257:07 p.m.: Kon Knueppel attended Duke’s last national championship asa fan, and now is trying to win one as a player.

Kon Knueppel in 2015 at the Final Four watching Duke

Now, he’s starring for the Blue Devils in the Final Four

Dreams to Reality pic.twitter.com/OSpWvfqFWa

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) April 5, 20256:41 p.m.: Former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski is in attendance at the Final Four.

Mike Krzyzewski has arrived to the Alamodome for the Final Four. The Hall of Famer had not attended any of Duke’s tournament games to this point but is in the house for his Blue Devils this weekend. pic.twitter.com/nWVxRP36Z9

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 5, 20256:23 p.m.: Houston fans have made the short trip to San Antonio and are excited to get the game going.

FOR THE ENTIRE NATION TO HEAR pic.twitter.com/jCCaqtKmUu

— University of Houston (@UHouston) April 5, 20255:51 p.m.: Ahead of Duke’s Final Four game vs. Houston, Cooper Flagg was named the 2025 Wooden Award winner.

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 5, 2025Duke vs. Houston start timeDate: Saturday, April 5Time: 8:49 p.m. ETDuke and Houston will play in the second Final Four game on Saturday night, following Auburn vs. Florida. The game is temporarily set for 8:49 p.m. ET, but it could be pushed back later depending on when the first game ends.

How to watch Duke vs. Houston in Final FourTV Channel: CBSLive Stream: Paramount+, FuboBoth Final Four games will be broadcast on CBS, with a live streaming option of Paramount+.

For those looking for an alternate streaming option, Fubo offers a free trial for new users.

Final Four schedule 2025Saturday, April 5

MatchupTime (ET)ChannelNo. 1 Auburn vs. No. 1 Florida6:09 p.m.CBSNo. 1 Duke vs. No. 1 Houston8:49 p.m.CBSMonday, April 7

MatchupTime (ET)ChannelTBD vs. No. 1 Florida8:50 p.m.CBS

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