Duke pulls away from top-seeded Houston in gritty second half to advance to Elite Eight

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Duke men’s basketball is back in the Elite Eight after outlasting a physical Houston with a 54-51 win in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Friday night. 

Houston’s top-ranked defense kept Duke at bay in the first half, but the Cougars suffered a tough blow when All-American guard Jamal Shead went down with an apparent foot injury while driving towards the basket with just a little over six minutes left in the half. 

Jamal Shead #1 of the Houston Cougars falls to the ground during the 1st half of the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game against Duke Blue Devils at American Airlines Center on March 29, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.  (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

After remaining on the ground visibly in pain, Shead was helped up and eventually walked back to the locker room. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

According to reports, his X-rays came back negative, and he was diagnosed with a severely sprained right ankle. He would remain on the sidelines for the rest of the game. 

But without Shead, Duke managed to pull away in the second half. 

Kyle Filipowski had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the charge, but Jeremy Roach's 14 second-half points kept the momentum going. 

Kyle Filipowski #30 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots during the second half of the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Houston Cougars at American Airlines Center on March 29, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.  (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

"I’m really proud of these guys and really proud of the game tonight – that was a big time college basketball game," Duke head coach Jon Scheyer