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Florida Gators Clinch NCAA Title in Thrilling Comeback Victory
Apr
Florida Gators Win National Title with Stunning Comeback
SAN ANTONIO – The Florida Gators are national champions once again after a dramatic 65-63 win over the University of Houston on Monday night at the Alamodome. The victory brings Florida its third NCAA men’s basketball championship.
Slow Start and Tough Defense
Houston started strong, holding the Gators to just 22 points in the first half. It was the lowest-scoring first half in a men’s title game since 2011. The Cougars, led by coach Kelvin Sampson, played their signature physical, defensive style and built a 12-point lead.
Walter Clayton Jr. Sparks the Comeback
Florida flipped the momentum in the final minutes. Walter Clayton Jr., who was scoreless in the first half, ignited the offense late in the game. He scored his first basket with eight minutes remaining, cutting into Houston’s lead.
The Gators took the lead with just 46 seconds left—marking their first advantage since the early 8-6 mark. Strong defense forced a crucial turnover, followed by a free throw and one last defensive stop. Florida led for just over one minute in the entire game—but it was enough to win.
Team Effort Powers Gators
Will Richard led the scoring with 18 points, while Alex Condon added 12. Clayton, named Most Outstanding Player, finished with 11 points. Though it was a quiet night for him, he had carried the team in previous rounds—scoring 30 points in the Elite Eight and 34 in the Final Four.
“We’ve been saying all year, ‘We all can go!’” Clayton said. “It’s not just about me. We’ve got a team full of guys who can get a bucket.”
A Historic Night for Florida
This is Florida’s third national championship, following back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007. Former Gators coach Billy Donovan, who led those title runs, was in attendance. He was honored for being selected to the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame class.
Youngest Coach to Win Since 1983
Head coach Todd Golden, 39, became the youngest men’s coach to win an NCAA title since NC State’s Jim Valvano in 1983.
“We stayed the course,” Golden said. “We’ve had to come back a lot this tournament, but our guys kept their composure. They play hard, they believe in each other, and they find ways to win.”
SEC Powerhouse
Florida entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed and was one of a record 14 Southeastern Conference teams to qualify. Their gritty, resilient run ended with the ultimate reward—cutting down the nets as national champions.
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