The Gators’ Thrilling Victory in the NCAA Championship
The University of Florida Gators have reclaimed their position at the pinnacle of college basketball. In a breathtaking finish at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, the Gators secured their third national championship by edging out the University of Houston Cougars with a final score of 65-63.
A crowd of 66,602 spectators witnessed the dramatic turnaround on Monday night, where Florida executed a stunning comeback. Despite trailing for most of the game, the Gators’ relentless drive saw them take the lead with just 46 seconds left on the clock, marking their first advantage since the opening minutes.
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Initially, the Cougars dominated, employing a fierce defense that has become a hallmark under Coach Kelvin Sampson’s leadership. This strategy resulted in the lowest-scoring first half of a men’s national title game since 2011. However, the Gators surged back, with Walter Clayton Jr. breaking his scoreless streak with a pivotal drive to the basket in the second half.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
The Gators’ final push was characterized by a crucial turnover forced by their defense, a decisive free throw, and another turnover by Houston, sealing the victory. Despite holding the lead for only about a minute, Florida’s tenacity and teamwork were evident.
Key contributions came from Will Richard with 18 points and Alex Condon adding 12. Clayton, who had been instrumental throughout the tournament, finished with 11 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player. Reflecting on the game, Clayton said, “We’ve been saying all year our motto is, ‘We all can go!’ We’ve got a team full of guys that can go. It’s not just about me.”
This triumph marks Florida’s third NCAA men’s basketball championship, following their previous wins in 2006 and 2007. Present at the game was their former coach, Billy Donavan, who was honored as part of the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame class.
Leading the Gators to victory was Todd Golden, who at 39, became the youngest coach to win an NCAA title since 1983. After the game, Golden commented, “We did what we did all year. We stayed the course. These guys have been elite with their composure.”
As a No. 1 seed, Florida was one of an unprecedented 14 Southeastern Conference teams to compete in this year’s tournament, showcasing the strength and depth of the conference.
Reporting contributed by NPR’s Russell Lewis.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
