Game Recap

SAN FRANCISCO – For much of Saturday night’s Elite Eight matchup against Texas Tech, it looked as though Florida’s run was coming to an end. Instead, the Gators delivered one of the most remarkable late-game rallies in program history.

Top-seeded Florida punched its ticket to the Final Four with an 84–79 victory over the No. 3-seed Red Raiders in the West Region final, storming back with an 18–4 surge over the last three minutes. The win marked Florida’s 10th straight and its first Final Four appearance since 2014.

Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh sparked the turnaround, drilling consecutive three-pointers to cut a nine-point deficit (75–66) down to 75–72. Haugh finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, connecting on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc on a night when senior guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard struggled to find their rhythm.

Clayton, however, came alive when it mattered most. His three-pointer with 1:47 left tied the game, though Texas Tech briefly regained the lead on a basket by Darrion Williams with 1:23 remaining. Clayton answered again, burying another three to give Florida a 78–77 edge with 59 seconds to play. Martin then added two free throws, followed by two more from Clayton, extending the lead to 82–77.

That sealed it.

Clayton finished with a game-high 30 points, shooting 7-for-14 from the field, 3-for-8 from long range, and 13-for-14 at the free-throw line. Remarkably, he didn’t score until the 8:47 mark of the first half.

The dramatic closeout kept Florida’s season alive and set off a celebration at midcourt, as the Gators claimed their 16th win in the last 17 games.

"They stayed the course. Never too high, never too low," head coach Todd Golden told TBS. "That's what we did all year, find a way to win these games. They stepped up down the stretch."

Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 of his 30 points in the second half. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)

What It Means

Florida has secured its sixth trip to the Final Four and its first in more than a decade. Previous Gator squads reached the national semifinals in 1994, 2000, 2006 (when they went on to win the national title), 2007 (another championship season), and 2014.

Spotlight Performance

Walter Clayton Jr. once again delivered in crunch time, but the impact of Thomas Haugh was just as vital in a game largely controlled by Texas Tech. Haugh scored a team-best 12 points in the opening half, helping Florida take a 40–37 lead into the break. His two late three-pointers in the second half were the spark that ignited the Gators’ comeback.

By the Numbers

Florida struggled from long range for much of the night, hitting just 5 of its first 20 attempts from beyond the arc. But when it mattered most, Haugh and Clayton caught fire, combining to knock down the team’s final four three-pointers. The Gators closed the game 9-for-24 from distance.

What’s Next

With a 34–4 record, Florida now advances to the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. The Gators will meet the winner of the matchup between No. 1-seed Auburn (31–5) and No. 2-seed Michigan State (30–6). That game is scheduled for Sunday at 5:05 p.m. ET in Atlanta.

Senior writer Scott Carter contributed to this report. For more information, contact senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu.