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Florida Gators Defeat Houston Cougars 65-63 to Claim Third NCAA National Championship

By  //  April 8, 2025

Florida trailed by 12 points early in the second half

ABOVE VIDEO: Watch the extended 2025 men’s Final Four highlights from No. 1 Florida vs. No. 1 Houston in the men’s NCAA national championship game to close out the 2025 men’s basketball NCAA tournament.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – In a dramatic finish at the Alamodome on Monday night, the Florida Gators pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Houston Cougars 65-63 and claim the program’s third national championship.

Trailing by 12 points early in the second half, the Gators rallied behind a resilient team effort, overcoming a raucous, pro-Houston crowd and a sluggish start from star guard Walter Clayton Jr. The Lake Wales native was held scoreless in the first half but finished with 11 points to help lead Florida in the comeback victory.

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

Golden, 39, became the youngest head coach to win an NCAA title since Jim Valvano’s iconic 1983 run with N.C. State. He is also the youngest coach to win since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, surpassing Billy Donovan, who was 40 when he led Florida to its first title in 2006.

Florida secured its first lead since the early minutes of the game when Alijah Martin knocked down a pair of clutch free throws to make it 64-63 with 46.5 seconds remaining. Denzel Aberdeen added one more from the line with 19.7 seconds left to extend the margin.

n a season marked by comebacks, underdog spirit, and a new kind of grit, the Florida Gators basketball team again etched their name into college basketball lore. On a warm Monday night in April, inside a roaring State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the No. 7 seed Gators stunned the top-seeded Houston Cougars 65-63 to claim their third NCAA National Championship. (Florida Gators Facebook)

Houston had a chance to tie or win in the final possession, but guard Emanuel Sharp hesitated and failed to release a shot under tight defensive pressure. Florida’s Alex Condon secured the loose ball as time expired, sealing the victory and igniting celebration among Gators players and fans.

The championship marks Florida’s first since its back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.

In a dramatic finish at the Alamodome on Monday night, the Florida Gators pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Houston Cougars 65-63 and claim the program’s third national championship. (Florida Gators Image)

Will Richard led the Gators with 18 points, while Condon added 12. Clayton Jr., despite being scoreless for the first 25 minutes, finished with 11 points and played a key role down the stretch. His driving layup and subsequent free throw tied the game at 48 midway through the second half, sparking Florida’s final push.

Houston looked in control after a second 8-0 run gave them a 42-30 lead with 16:24 to play. But Florida clawed back, despite holding a lead for just 1 minute and 3 seconds in the entire game.

The Cougars led 31-28 at the break, thanks in part to an 8-0 first-half run. Richard kept the Gators within striking distance, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the first half and hitting four of five attempts from beyond the arc.

With relentless defense and timely plays, the Gators etched their name once again in college basketball history — and, in Florida lore, the Alamodome will now carry a legacy of triumph.

In a dramatic finish at the Alamodome on Monday night, the Florida Gators pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Houston Cougars 65-63 and claim the program’s third national championship. (Florida Gators Image)