Staff Writer
In a thrilling finish to the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the top-ranked Florida Gators secured a 65-63 victory over the Houston Cougars on Monday night in San Antonio, clinching their first national title since 2007.
Trailing for much of the game, Florida mounted a determined second-half comeback to claim its third national championship in program history. The Gators previously won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
A Tale of Two Halves
Houston (35-5) led 31-28 at halftime and extended the margin to 42-30 early in the second half. However, Florida responded with a critical 12-3 run to close the gap, exemplifying the grit and resilience they displayed throughout the tournament.
Turnovers proved decisive in the final minutes. Houston, which had just five turnovers in the first 38 minutes, committed four costly giveaways in the last 2:05 of regulation. In contrast, the Gators, who turned the ball over nine times in the first half, tightened up their ball security in the second, committing only four turnovers after the break.
Key Performances Fuel Florida’s Win
Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr., who had been scoreless in the first half, came alive in the second to score 11 points and dish out seven assists. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after a standout Final Four performance, including a 34-point showing against Auburn. Over the course of the tournament, Clayton led all scorers with 123 points, averaging 24.6 per game while shooting 56.3% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc in his last two appearances.
Will Richard led Florida in the title game with 18 points, including a strong 4-for-7 effort from three-point range. He also contributed 14 of those points in the first half, helping keep the Gators within striking distance.
Houston’s L.J. Cryer was the only Cougar to score in double figures, finishing with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-18 shooting.
Historic Win for the Gators
Florida’s two-point victory marks the narrowest margin in a national championship game since Duke edged Butler, 61-59, in 2010. The win caps a season of offensive excellence for the Gators, who entered the Final Four ranked second in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 129.1 points per 100 possessions.
Under head coach Todd Golden, Florida has now reestablished itself among college basketball’s elite, combining a high-powered offense with timely defense and clutch performances in high-pressure moments.
The Gators’ journey through the tournament, highlighted by Clayton’s scoring bursts and Richard’s consistency, culminated in a dramatic and hard-fought win—cementing their place once again in NCAA history.
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