Melissa Donovan
Florida fans were on the edge of their seats Saturday night as top-seeded Florida pulled off a stunning rally to defeat Texas Tech 84-79 in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final. The Gators, who found themselves trailing by nine points with under three minutes to go, dramatically flipped the script, thanks to Walter Clayton Jr.’s clutch three-pointers.
A Dramatic Turn of Events
The Gators (34-4) were staring down defeat, behind 75-66 against third-seeded Texas Tech (28-9), a team that had already proven its ability to stage comebacks in the Sweet 16. But Florida had its own comeback magic up its sleeve.
With just under a minute left, Clayton delivered a spectacular fadeaway three-pointer, pushing Florida ahead 78-77. From that moment, the Gators never looked back, securing their first Final Four appearance since 2014 under third-year head coach Todd Golden. Their next challenge? A showdown against Auburn, the South Region champions, on April 5 in San Antonio.
Coach Golden’s Homecoming Triumph
For Coach Todd Golden, the victory was particularly special. The game took place in the Bay Area, where he played college basketball at Saint Mary’s and began his coaching career at San Francisco. As the final buzzer sounded, Golden celebrated with an exuberant fist pump while his players stormed the court, soaking in their improbable victory.
Clayton, a former Iona standout, led the charge with 30 points, while Thomas Haugh made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds. Haugh played a crucial role in jumpstarting Florida’s comeback, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers before Clayton’s heroics sealed the deal.
Texas Tech’s Heartbreaking Finish
Texas Tech, seeking its second Final Four appearance, seemed poised to close out the game after building a late 10-point lead. However, missed free throws in crucial moments left the door open for Florida’s rally.
Darrius Williams, who had previously saved the Red Raiders with late-game heroics against Arkansas, couldn’t replicate the magic this time. He had two opportunities from beyond the arc in the final moments but came up short. Williams finished with 23 points, while JT Toppin added 20 for Texas Tech.
A Historic Final Four Awaits
This year’s NCAA Tournament has delivered something that hasn’t happened since 2008—all four No. 1 seeds have made it to the Final Four. Florida will take on Auburn in a battle of SEC powerhouses, while Duke and Houston face off in the other semifinal.
Here’s a look at the Final Four schedule:
Saturday, April 5
- Game 1: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 1 Auburn at 6:09 p.m. ET
- Game 2: No. 1 Houston vs. No. 1 Duke at 8:49 p.m. ET
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