Florida Edges Out Houston to Win Third NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in Nail-Biter Finish
In front of more than 66,000 fans at the Alamodome on Monday night, the University of Florida Gators secured their third NCAA men’s basketball national championship in dramatic fashion, edging past the University of Houston 65-63. The Gators trailed nearly the entire game before clawing back in the final minutes to snatch the win — their first lead since the opening minutes coming with just 46 seconds left on the clock.
Florida only held the lead for just over a minute in total, but it was enough. After forcing a crucial turnover and hitting a late free throw, the Gators made a final stand on defense to lock up the title.
Slow Start, Strong Finish for the Gators
The game opened with a stifling defensive performance from Houston, who held Florida to one of the lowest-scoring first halves in a title game since 2011. Down by as many as 12 points and struggling to find their rhythm, the Gators stayed afloat thanks to key contributions from Will Richard (18 points) and Alex Condon (12 points).
Florida’s star guard Walter Clayton Jr. — the team’s engine throughout the tournament — was held scoreless in the first half. But he flipped the switch late in the second, finally breaking through with a layup with just eight minutes remaining. He finished with 11 points and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after posting 30 in the Elite 8 against Texas Tech and 34 in the Final Four win over Auburn.
“We’ve been saying all year our motto is, ‘We all can go!’ It’s not just about me,” Clayton said postgame. “My team helped me hold it down until I was able to go get a bucket.”
A Historic Night for Florida Basketball
This win marks Florida’s third national title, joining their back-to-back championships from 2006 and 2007. Former head coach Billy Donovan — who led those championship teams — was in attendance and honored Monday night after being named to the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame class.
Current head coach Todd Golden, just 39 years old, became the youngest to win an NCAA men’s basketball championship since NC State’s Jim Valvano in 1983.
“We did what we did all year. We stayed the course,” Golden said after the win. “These guys have been elite with their composure. Our young guys in the front court fight like hell for these seniors every day. They compete and they find a way to win. They are winners.”
Houston’s Defense Comes Up Short in Final Seconds
Known for their aggressive, physical style, Houston and head coach Kelvin Sampson executed their defensive game plan almost perfectly — until the final minutes. The Cougars controlled most of the game, using their signature “junkyard” defense to smother Florida and slow the pace.
But when the Gators turned up the pressure in the final seven minutes, Houston couldn’t hold them off. A late turnover and a missed opportunity to respond in the final seconds sealed their fate.
Florida, a No. 1 seed and one of 14 Southeastern Conference teams in the men’s tournament — a record — now leaves San Antonio as national champions once again.
