Without Jamal Shead, top-ranked Houston just couldn’t get past Duke on Friday night.
The Blue Devils, after Shead went down with a severely-sprained ankle in the first half, jumped ahead and held on in the final seconds to grab a 54-51 win in their Sweet 16 matchup at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. That sent Duke to its second Elite Eight in three seasons, and the first under second-year head coach Jon Scheyer.
Remarkably, it also marked Duke’s first NCAA tournament win over a higher seed in 30 years.
Cougars struggle after losing Jamal Shead
Shead drove to the rim a few minutes after the midway point of the first half, but his right ankle rolled hard as he planted to rise up for the layup.