Florida Gators Defeat Two-Time Defending National Champ UConn in NCAA Tourney, Gators Reach First Sweet 16 Since 2017
By Space Coast Daily // March 24, 2025
Florida vs Maryland - Thursday at 7:39 p.m. on TBS
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida vs. UConn – Second round NCAA tournament extended highlights
RALEIGH, N.C. – Down three with under four minutes left, the Florida Gators faced a turning point against two-time defending national champion UConn. Coach Todd Golden’s message during the timeout was clear: “It’s now or never.”
Senior leaders and underclassmen alike responded, and Florida delivered.
Walter Clayton Jr., the All-American guard, exploded for eight of his game-high 23 points in a critical two-minute stretch, including two clutch 3-pointers that flipped the game. That late surge powered No. 1 seed Florida (32-4) to a 77-75 victory in the NCAA West Region second round, sending them to their first Sweet 16 since 2017.
Florida will face 4-seed Maryland on Thursday in San Francisco.
“We just persevered,” said forward Thomas Haugh. “And we’ve got Walter Clayton Jr. on our team.”
Clayton overcame early turnovers and finished 6-of-14 from the field, including five 3s and a 6-of-7 mark at the line. He had struggled earlier—just 10 points in the first 30 minutes—but came alive when it counted most.
UConn, who had won 13 straight NCAA Tournament games, kept it close until the final buzzer. But Florida’s defense held the Huskies to 37.5% shooting and just 27.6% from beyond the arc.
Graduate transfer Alijah Martin added 18 points, while Will Richard contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals. The Gators shot 54% in the second half but missed 12 free throws after halftime.
Still, the veterans led a clutch 10-2 run late to build an eight-point cushion. Martin sealed the deal with a two-handed dunk off a missed free throw rebound, and Haugh calmly hit two free throws in the final seconds to fend off a UConn rally.
“You need games like this to make a deep March run,” Golden said. “Our guys made the plays when it mattered most.”
Now, Florida heads west—two wins away from the Final Four.
