What Happened

SAN ANTONIO — They like to say “Remember the Alamo” in these parts.

The Gators will always say “Remember the Alamodome” after what transpired on Monday night in the national championship game. Florida overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to knock off Houston, 65-63, in front of a sold-out and Houston-heavy crowd at the Alamodome.

“We did what we did all year,” Gators head coach Todd Golden told CBS. “This team never quits. We clearly have the best team in America. I’m super fortunate to be with this group right here.”

The Gators took their first lead since early in the first half on a pair of free throws from Alijah Martin that put UF in front, 64-63, with 46.5 seconds left. Denzel Aberdeen added a free throw with 19.7 seconds to stretch the lead to 65-63.

Finally, with a chance to tie or put home a game-winning 3-point shot, Houston’s Emanuel Sharp rose from behind the 3-point line with a defender in his face. Sharp landed back on the court without shooting and released the ball. Unable to touch the bouncing ball or be be called for traveling, Sharp watched as Florida’s Alex Condon scooped up the ball as time ran out to ignite a Gators celebration.

Florida won its third national championship in program history and first since the back-to-back championship teams of 2006 and 2007.

On a night Walter Clayton Jr. did not score his first points until more than 25 minutes into the game, when he hit a pair of free throws with 14:57 remaining, the Gators turned in a team effort.

Will Richard led the Gators with 18 points, Condon added 12, and Clayton Jr. finished with 11 Clayton scored his first field goal on a driving layup with 7:54 that cut Houston’s lead to 48-47. He hit the free throw to convert the 3-point play and tie the game 48-all, and from there it was a battle to the finish.

The Cougars went on their second 8-0 run of the game early in the first half after Condon’s dunk trimmed the Cougars’ lead to 34-30. Over the next 2:09, Houston’s Milos Uzan hit a pair of free throws, followed by a free throw from LJ Cryer after a technical on Florida’s bench. Cryer then added a 3-pointer and J’Wan Roberts scored inside to give Houston a 42-30 lead with 16:24 remaining, the Gators’ largest deficit of the NCAA Tournament.

Houston led 31-28 at halftime, leading by as many as eight in the first half. After Richard’s second 3-pointer of the game tied the game 21-all, Houston went on an 8-0 run to gain separation.

However, Richard kept the Gators close with 14 first-half points, including hitting 4 of 5 from distance to help offset Clayton going scoreless in the first half, missing all four of his 3-point shots while dishing five assists.

The 39-year-old Golden becomes the youngest coach to win a national championship since 37-year-old Jim Valvano led N.C. State to an upset over Houston in 1983. He’s the youngest since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams for the 1984-85 season since 40-year-old Billy Donovan led Florida to its first national championship in 2006.

 

What it Means

The Gators, in their sixth trip in program history to the Final Four, won their third national championship. Florida improved to 3-1 all-time in the national championship, losing to Michigan State in 2000 before winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, and coming back to beat the Cougars on Monday.
 

In the Spotlight

Houston was determined to shut down Clayton Jr. and did a good job for the most part. Still, after being scoreless in the first, Clayton Jr. did enough after halftime to provide a spark the Gators needed in the worst way. Clayton Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
 

Staggering Statistic

Florida and Houston combined to shoot 12 of 49 from 3-point range, with Richardson’s 4-for-7 performance key to keeping Florida close in the first half.
 

Up Next

Florida (36-4) returns home Tuesday morning as national champions. What a team. What a season.