Resilient Florida relies on the defense, Playmakers in NCAA Title Game Game Comeback – Orange County Register

By Jim Virtuno Sports writer AP

San Antonio – The dribbles rebounded on the hips, without a pass Look did not go to anyone and the best player in Florida could not do a basket.

And when the Gators bench was assessed a technical fault at the start of the second half, a frustrating night seemed to strike its low point.

But then, the resilient Gators launched themselves when they retaliated with a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat Houston, 65-63, in the match for the title of the NCAA for the third national school championship.

A pointer blocked at 3 points by Thomas Haugh led to his lay-up, a three-point game and a howling fist pump. Walter Clayton Jr., aimlessly in the first half, equaled the match three times in the second half.

“I became a little emotional. My team needed a spark,” said Haugh about his game which helped Gators get less than 45-42 with about 12 minutes.

“This group,” he added, “is just grainy.”

Quite grainy for four returns in this NCAA tournament.

The Gators created their own version of the suffocating defense of Houston who had smothered them for a large part of the first half. The cougars committed four reversals in the last 1:21.

While Houston was looking for the 3-point winner in the last seconds, Clayton forced Emanuel Sharp to abandon the shot. Sharp had to let the ball leave, creating a crazy race as a 11 -inch 11 -inch condom of Florida fully extensive, plunging to the ground to obtain it.

The Gators had been completely synchronized in the first half.

Nothing worked for Clayton, who had scored 30 and 34 points, respectively, in the two previous games to transport his team to the final. This meant that other players should intensify.

“We have 20 minutes. Let’s take the tone! ” Will Richard told his Florida teammates in a group just outside the locker room at halftime.

Clayton said that coach Todd Golden had never seemed worried about his first half difficulties.

“The coach has said nothing. We understand that it is a team sport, it is not a single guy. Several guys have intensified,” said Star Guard.

Richard had kept Florida in the match with four 3 points in the first half. Condon, which finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, did the work on the defensive, teaming up with Haugh, Rueben Chinaeru and Micah Handglot to maintain the muscle I Wan Roberts of Houston at eight points on the shot of 3 out of 13.

Richard even gathered the team after the technical fault to calm things.

Clayton finally delivered the biggest moments in the rally when he equaled the scoring three times, the first two on the lay-ups for three points and the last with a disputed shot at 3 points.

“We bounce back,” said Gators goalkeeper Alijah Martin, whose free throws with 46 seconds on the left gave Florida’s head.

“We did it all year round, but now we have done it on the biggest scene.”

Chinyelu celebrated with a cigar – still wrapped in plastic – in the Florida locker room. Golden was heading for the post-match press conference when someone asked how many texts he had received after the victory.

He has taken a look at his phone: “There are 6,994. Wait … 6,995,” he said, continuing to flock.

Golden said he didn’t have to give a fiery speech at halftime after the first reversals and the poor shots.

“We just needed to calm down,” he said. “It’s a bit anchored in their DNA. … They just found a way to win the match.”

Originally published: April 7, 2025 at 9:35 p.m.