SAN ANTONIO — Florida is now one win away from a national title after edging out Auburn 79–73 in Saturday’s Final Four matchup at the sold-out Alamodome. The victory marks the Gators’ fifth straight in the NCAA Tournament, putting them within reach of the championship.

Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. led the charge with a game-high 34 points, shooting 11-of-18 from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point range. His performance continued what’s been described as a “magical NCAA Tournament,” with 20 of his points coming in the second half.



Alijah Martin added 17 points, while sophomore Thomas Haugh contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, helping Florida extend its overall win streak to 11 games.

After trailing 49–40 early in the second half, Florida responded with an 11–0 run to take the lead. Auburn stayed competitive behind SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome (15 points, seven rebounds) and Chad Baker-Mazara (18 points, 4-of-7 from deep).

With the score tied at 57 midway through the second half, Martin made a key steal and delivered a go-ahead dunk that energized the crowd. He followed it up with another dunk over two defenders, giving Florida a 66–63 lead with 5:27 remaining. Auburn closed the gap twice in the final minutes, but Florida held firm to secure a spot in the national championship game under head coach Todd Golden, now in his third season.

Walter Clayton Jr. hits a fade-away 3-pointer in the second half. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)

What It Means

Florida has reached the national championship game for the fourth time in program history, following its sixth overall appearance in the Final Four. The Gators hold a 2–1 record in title games, having fallen to Michigan State in 2000 before clinching back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007.

In the Spotlight

Walter Clayton Jr. is now part of elite NCAA Tournament history. His 34-point performance against Auburn, combined with 30 points in the Elite Eight win over Texas Tech, makes him “the first player since Bird in 1979 to go for 30 or more points in the Elite Eight and Final Four.”

Staggering Statistic

Clayton’s 34 points set a new Florida record for scoring in a Final Four game, surpassing Udonis Haslem’s 27-point effort in the 2000 title matchup against Michigan State. With 702 points this season, Clayton broke the program’s single-season scoring record—previously held by Andy Owens (676 points in 1969–70). He also set a new school record for points in a single NCAA Tournament, now at 123, eclipsing Joakim Noah’s 97 from 2006.

Up Next

Florida (35–4) will face the winner of Houston vs. Duke in Monday night’s national championship game.