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Florida overcomes 12-point second half deficit to win third national championship game

The 2025 Final Four was hyped up as one of the best of all time before it began due to the talent level of the teams, and it’s safe to say that the product on the court matched the hype. After two thrilling semifinals that saw Florida and Houston overcome second half deficits, the championship was just as compelling.

The nerves were evident from the get-go, as the teams missed their first 12 combined three-point attempts. Outside of a couple of thunderous dunks, the basketball was far from perfect, but you could tell both teams were giving it everything they had. Will Richard finally broke the silence from the three-point line when he banged in back-to-back three-pointers around 11 minutes in to bring Florida within two.

Houston would respond with a couple of threes of its own late in the first half from LJ Cryer and Mylik Wilson to go into the break up 31-28, but Richard’s 14 points were the story at halftime.

Richard kept Florida in it almost single-handedly, but after Cryer caught fire to start the second half, Houston built up a 42-30 lead with 16:24 to go. A few minutes later, an 8-0 run had Florida within three, but Cryer again came up with an important bucket to push Houston’s lead to 48-42. Another mini run from Florida capped off by a Walter Clayton Jr. and-one, for his first points of the game with under eight minutes to go, tied the game at 48-48.

From there, it was the dogfight we all imagined between these two teams, as neither could gain separation. Clayton continued to perform down the stretch, converting an and-one to tie the game at 51-51 before his first three-pointer of the game evened the score at 60-60 with just over three minutes left. Cryer tipped in a missed shot of his own as one of the smallest players on the court to give Houston the lead right back, but Florida would finally surge in front two minutes later as Alijah Martin went 2-for-2 from the line to make it 64-63 Gators.

From there on, the Florida defense clamped down and the Houston offense couldn’t put anything together. The first time Houston had the ball in the final 45 seconds, Emanuel Sharp dribbled the ball off his knee. Denzel Aberdeen would go 1-of-2 from the line to make it 65-63 Florida with 19 seconds left.

Kelvin Sampson would draw up a beautiful play for Houston’s final possession, as Sharp bursted through an elevator screen at the top of the key, thinking he had an open look. Clayton, having seemingly fallen asleep defensively, spurted out late from around the double screen, causing Sharp to panic and put the ball on the floor. To avoid a travel call, Sharp stepped away and the ball continued to bounce, resulting in all-out scramble on the floor as time expired.

As the buzzer sounded, it was a surreal moment for Todd Golden, who became the youngest head coach since Jim Valvano to win the national championship, bringing the Florida basketball program its third national title. The Gators fell behind in the second half once again in the tournament, but the 12-point deficit proved not to be enough deterrent to this Gators squad.

After a superb tournament, Walter Clayton Jr. could only muster up 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, but still undoubtedly earned himself the Most Outstanding Player award as he appeared when needed on Monday night for Florida. Will Richard’s 18 points led Florida as LJ Cryer was the only Houston player in double-figures with a game-high 19 points.

A trip to the national championship game once again ends in despair for Houston, and the third time failed to be proved the charm. After a tournament with minimal drama through the first two rounds, it’s safe to say that this beautiful long weekend of basketball made up for it with three instant classics in San Antonio at the Alamodome.

To everyone who’s made it this far, thank you for supporting my writing this season, and here’s to next season being just as compelling as this year’s. Be on the lookout for a handful of articles littered throughout the spring, recapping the 2024-25 season and highlighting offseason drama before team and conference previews begin in mid-summer.

Other Things to Note:

• We officially have to wait seven months until the next college basketball game…