National champion Florida on the post-game podium after Monday night's win.
From Court Kings to Campus Legends
SAN ANTONIO – Heading into Monday night’s NCAA Tournament championship, much of the spotlight was on how the Florida Gators would handle the aggressive, top-tier defense of the second-ranked Houston Cougars.
But in a twist of expectations, it was Florida’s own defensive effort that turned the tide.
The Gators mounted a dramatic second-half comeback, erasing a 12-point deficit to edge out Houston 65–63 in a nail-biting national title game that kept over 66,000 fans at the Alamodome on edge. With the clock winding down, third-ranked Florida sealed a stunning victory—marking their third national championship and their first since the back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
This triumph came in just the third year under Head Coach
Todd Golden, who has revitalized the program’s national standing once shaped by Hall-of-Famer Billy Donovan. Golden also made history as the youngest coach to win a national title since Jim Valvano led North Carolina State in 1983. As the original article notes, “Golden's Gators showed time and again during this remarkable 2024-25 season they were never out of a game; and that they could play – and win – any kind of game.”
Todd Golden, 39, is the youngest coach to win a national championship in 42 years.
Florida’s performance stood out even when matched against a defense widely regarded as one of the most formidable in recent college basketball history.
"We've gotten a lot of credit for our offense because we've been so explosive all year," Golden said. "But that's what makes this team special. We can win in different ways and we showed that again tonight."
With just 46.5 seconds left on the clock, UF graduate guardAlijah Martin sank two clutch free throws, giving Florida its first lead since the early minutes of the game. In the final moments, Houston had two opportunities to reclaim the advantage, but Florida’s defense held firm. Senior guard Will Richardand sophomore forward Alex Condon each forced a turnover, denying the Cougars any chance to attempt a game-winning shot.
UF guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) was held to 11 points, but they all came in the second half when the Gators made their comeback.
Despite being the focus of Houston’s defensive strategy, senior point guard Walter Clayton Jr. was held to 11 points on three field goals. In his stead, Will Richard led Florida with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Alex Condon contributed 12 points, seven boards, and four steals. The Gators (36–4) closed out the season with a 12-game win streak, including two comeback victories at the Final Four against top-seeded teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 4. One of those comebacks came Saturday night, when Florida overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to defeat SEC regular-season champion Auburn.
This marked Florida’s fifth double-digit comeback win of the season and the third-largest rally in NCAA championship game history. The Gators held the lead for just 63 seconds.
"It just goes back to how connected we are as a team," said Richard, who kept Florida competitive in the first half by sinking four three-pointers. "I feel like we don't have any quit. I feel like as long as there's time on the clock, if we take it possession by possession … I just like our resiliency and how we fight through adversity throughout the whole game [takes over]."
That level of resilience was essential.
Houston entered the game with a reputation for elite defense, allowing just 58.5 points per game and excelling at forcing turnovers. Prior to Monday, the Cougars held opponents to 38.2% shooting overall and 30.3% from beyond the arc. Their dramatic comeback against Duke on Saturday only amplified the narrative. Against Florida, Houston held the Gators to 39.6% shooting and just six three-pointers on 24 attempts.
Florida responded with defensive intensity of its own, limiting Houston to 34.8% shooting overall and just 31% in the second half. The Gators forced seven turnovers after halftime and held the Cougars scoreless from the field for nine straight possessions during their rally. In the final 3:24, Florida forced five turnovers—including three in the last 91 seconds—while Houston managed just one point.
"It just goes back to what we've done all season," Martin said. "We never blinked."
Clayton, who had averaged 24.6 points and nearly 48% shooting from three over the first five tournament games, was held scoreless in the first half, missing all four of his attempts. He did record five assists.
"My motto, 'We all can go,' " said Clayton, who earned the title of Most Outstanding Player. "I understand that if it ain't my night somebody is going to pick me up."
With the score knotted at 21 late in the first half, Houston surged ahead with an 8-0 run, fueled by three-pointers from LJ Cryer (19 points, 6 rebounds) and Mylik Wilson (9 points). Florida responded with a 7-2 burst to close the half, capped by Will Richard’s fourth three-pointer in the final minute, sending the Gators into halftime trailing 31–28.
Not a bad position, considering Walter Clayton Jr. had yet to score and Florida had committed nine turnovers.
"I was definitely concerned," Golden said. "They were dictating tempo."
That concern deepened early in the second half when Houston, already up by four, added another eight unanswered points to stretch their lead to 42–30 with 16:23 remaining. At that point, Clayton had gone more than 16 minutes—spanning both halves—without even attempting a shot.
According to ESPN’s win probability meter, Houston held a 93.9% chance of victory.
"Our defense was so good the first half," said Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson, whose team also gained momentum from two technical fouls—one assessed to the Florida bench and another to center Rueben Chinyelu. "Of course, a big part of our [plan] was Clayton. He is elite."
Houston extended its lead to 11 at 45–34 with under 14 minutes to play. That’s when Florida began its rally, sparked by a jumper from backup guard Denzel Aberdeen (7 points). Alijah Martin’s lone three-pointer trimmed the deficit to six, and sophomore forward Thomas Haugh (5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) delivered a pivotal sequence—blocking a shot, sprinting in transition, and completing a three-point play off a pass from Richard to bring the score to 45–42 with 12 minutes left.
As the game got longer, the buckets got harder for LJ Cryer (4) and the Cougars.
As the game neared the under-eight timeout, Walter Clayton Jr. found an opening and drove in for a layup—his first score of the night—and converted the ensuing free throw to tie the game at 48 with 7:57 remaining. Over the next four minutes, Houston managed to stay ahead, but Florida kept applying pressure, matching the score five times. One of those came from Clayton’s only three-pointer of the game, which leveled things again with 3:11 left.
"We were starting to wear them down," said Thomas Haugh. "You could just tell."
With 2:05 on the clock, Houston forward Joseph Tugler made one of two free throws, nudging the Cougars ahead 63–62.
They wouldn’t score again.
After a series of missed opportunities from both teams, Alijah Martin was fouled with 46.5 seconds left and Florida trailing by one. He calmly sank both free throws, giving UF its first lead since the early 8–6 advantage.
Following a timeout, Houston’s Emanual Sharp (8 points, 1-for-7 from three) attempted to break through Florida’s defense from the top of the key. Will Richard stepped in to help, swiped at the ball, and deflected it off Sharp’s leg and out of bounds. Florida regained possession with 26.5 seconds to play.
Senior Will Richard (5) is pumped after forcing Houston guard Emanuel Sharp into a turnover with 26 seconds to play.
Following Florida’s inbound play, Denzel Aberdeen received the ball near midcourt and was fouled with 19.7 seconds remaining. He missed the first free throw but converted the second, giving the Gators a two-point lead. Florida called a timeout, while Houston prepared for a final push.
"In the end, you've got to get a shot," said Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson.
During Florida’s timeout, the coaching staff debated whether to foul one of Houston’s weaker free-throw shooters to prevent a potential game-winning three-point attempt. Ultimately, Head Coach Todd Golden opted against it.
"There's a good chance he doesn't make two, but if he does we're going to have the ball, tie game, shot clock off. We've got a chance to win it," explained Florida assistant and defensive coordinator John Andrzejek. "But you know, Coach believed in our defense. He gave us a shot with 19 seconds left to play D and get one stop."
Emanual Sharp, a 41.5% shooter from beyond the arc, took center stage once again. With time running out, he received a pass from LJ Cryer at the top of the key, drove left, and rose for a jumper with about five seconds remaining. Walter Clayton Jr. timed his defensive challenge perfectly, forcing Sharp to lose control of the ball mid-air. Unable to recover it without committing a travel, Sharp tried to shield the ball and wait for help—but Alex Condon charged in, dove for the loose ball, and secured possession as the final buzzer sounded.
"It's all really just a blur," Condon said afterward.
Moments later, Florida’s bench erupted, with players and coaches flooding the court in celebration.
As the final buzzer sounded, orange and blue confetti rained down, followed by the trophy presentation and the ceremonial net-cutting.
Head Coach Todd Golden stood proudly at the podium, a piece of net draped around his neck. Houston had entered the game undefeated in contests where they held opponents below 70 points—33 wins, no losses. That streak ended here.
Florida, against the odds, claimed the 2025 NCAA Championship.
"Our players, they've been the difference all year long. Been incredibly consistent, with a great work ethic," Golden said. "We have an incredibly talented group – one of the most talented groups in America – but I think what has separated us all season is how our guys have played together and for each other all year. Because of that we can call ourselves national champions for the rest of our lives."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
