SAN ANTONIO – The University of Florida Gators are once again kings of American college basketball after pulling off a nail-biting 65–63 win over the University of Houston in front of a roaring crowd of over 66,000 fans at the Alamodome.
The NCAA men’s championship match was a classic tale of two halves. Houston came out firing with their trademark tough-as-nails defence, holding Florida to one of the lowest first-half scores in a national title game since 2011. It was gritty, physical, and exactly how Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson wanted it.
But the Gators weren’t going down without a fight.
A Second-Half Surge
Down by as much as 12 points, Florida turned on the jets with just seven minutes to go. Their high-powered offence suddenly came to life, led by Walter Clayton Jr., who had been scoreless in the first half. His first basket came with eight minutes left in the second half, sparking a momentum shift.
The Gators snatched the lead for the first time since early in the match with just 46 seconds on the clock. A defensive steal, clutch free throws, and another crucial stop sealed the win. Florida only led the game for just over a minute—but it was enough.
Big Names, Big Moments
Will Richard top-scored with 18 points, while Alex Condon added a handy 12. Clayton, who had carried the team through the Elite 8 and Final Four with 30 and 34 points respectively, finished with 11 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Speaking after the game, Clayton gave full credit to his teammates for stepping up:
“We’ve been saying all year our motto is, ‘We all can go!’ It’s not just about me. My team held it down until I could step up."
A Historic Win for the Gators
This win marks Florida’s third NCAA men’s basketball championship, following back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Their former coach during those golden years, Billy Donovan, was in the stands and honoured during the night for his recent induction into the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame.
In a standout achievement, current head coach Todd Golden, aged just 39, became the youngest coach to win the title since 1983.
“We did what we’ve done all year—we stayed composed,” Golden said post-match. “This team just finds ways to win. They’re competitors. They’re winners.”
Aussie Angle: Condon Makes His Mark
For Aussie fans, it was great to see Alex Condon, the Perth-born forward, playing a key role in the final. He’s had a solid season and showed nerves of steel in the biggest game of his young career. Expect to hear more from him in the coming years as his stock rises.
SEC Powerhouse
Florida entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed, one of a record-breaking 14 teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to make the men's NCAA tournament this year—another sign of the strength of college hoops in America’s southeast.
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Mitchell
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