In San Antonio, the Florida Gators had a rough start during the first half of Monday’s national championship game. Apart from Will Richard’s 14-point contribution, the team struggled significantly. They were plagued by nine turnovers, nearly matching their average for the entire season, and were outplayed in rebounding and physicality. Meanwhile, Walter Clayton Jr., the tournament’s top scorer, couldn’t manage a single point in those initial 20 minutes.
Despite these setbacks, Florida was only trailing by one possession at the half, a sign that glory was still within their grasp if they could overcome the hurdles. However, things took a turn for the worse early in the second half as the Gators slipped into a double-digit deficit. It seemed like their remarkable 2024-25 run might end in disappointment on such a prominent platform, in front of more than 60,000 spectators at the Alamodome.
True to form under head coach Todd Golden, the Gators refused to give up. They saved their best for last, staging a comeback to clinch a 65-63 victory. This win made Golden the youngest coach to secure a national championship since Jim Valvano did it in 1983. Late in the game, Clayton Jr. showcased his resilience by converting a three-point play to tie the score at 48. However, Rueben Chinyelu’s frustration led to a technical foul, gifting the Cougars a three-point edge.
Clayton remained unfazed, executing yet another three-point play to even things up again. The game then turned into a seesaw battle, with neither team able to pull decisively ahead. Florida lagged slightly, trailing 60-57 during the final media break, but they were no strangers to second-half comebacks, as previously seen against UConn, Texas Tech, and Auburn.
Emerging from the timeout, Clayton Jr. nailed his first three-pointer of the night, tying it once more at 60. Houston countered with a second-chance tip-in. Richard drew a foul on the next possession and coolly sunk both free throws, leveling the score again.
With just 46.5 seconds remaining, the Gators were down by one when Alijah Martin drove to the basket and was fouled. He calmly converted both from the stripe, putting Florida ahead for the first time in the second half. Golden called for a timeout to strategize.
In a decisive moment, Florida forced a turnover with 26.5 seconds on the clock. The Cougars quickly fouled Aberdeen, who managed to make one of his two free throws, stretching the Gators’ lead to two points. A crucial defensive stand allowed Alex Condon to scoop up a loose ball as the final seconds ticked away, sealing the Gators’ triumphant victory.
