The Florida Gators are the 2025 Men’s Basketball NCAA Tournament champion after beating the Houston Cougars (65-63) in a thrilling way on Monday night.
The Gators did so in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan, and thus did not win the Hardwood national title. This is the program’s third national title.
Florida fought the nasty Cougars all night and went back in the second half to win it all.
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The Florida Gators guards will be shooting the ball against Houston Cougars forward J’Wan Roberts (13) in the second half in the final four national championship games of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. (Scott Wachter-Imagn image)
As expected, both teams gave 40 minutes of suffocating defense on the court, turning into a back and forth whirlwind for the final two minutes of the second half.
The result started with jumper Will Richard’s block and played with the remaining 1:22 after Joseph Tagger’s sales followed after the fight under the hoop.
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Florida scored Houston’s main scorer LJ Cryer with 19 points, with Alex Condon scoring Steal and turning the ball over. On the other end of the floor, 63-62 Florida was desperate for the bucket, causing Aliya Martin to be fouled by Tagger, making him go to the free throw line where he could potentially take the lead with the rest of the 46 seconds.
As the ice became veins, Martin filled both charity stripe shots to get a 64-63 lead. Florida’s defense, which requires yet another stop, prompted Houston’s Emmanuel to dribble the ball from his knee, causing the boundary to collapse with 26 seconds left.
Denzel Aberdeen was eventually fouled with the shot clock turned off, but he would only make one of his two free throw attempts. So, 65-63, Houston had the opportunity to tie the game together or win everything with a three-pointer.
For Florida, the best defensive possession of the night came at the perfect moment. Houston couldn’t play the script and Sharp ultimately thrilled three with five seconds left, but a good closeout dropped him as he dropped the ball as he jumped.
Houston Cougars Guard Emmanuel Sharp (21) shoots Florida Gators Guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) in the second half in the National Championship Game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final 4 at the Alamodome. (Imaginary by Robert Deutsch-Immagn)
Sharp was not allowed to touch the ball due to the double dribbling rules, and as the clock was ticking through, the final horn was blown away, and the Gator was blessed.
They had a 12-point lead at some point in the second half, which made it a tough look for the Cougars. They are also the 31-28 halftime leaders, including a quarter from the 3-point territory after making Florida just 37.9% fire.
Walter Clayton, the Gators’ top scorer throughout the season, averaging 18.5 points per game, went scoreless in the first half.
However, Clayton eventually dropped 11 in the second half, with Alex Condon (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals) and the team’s key scorer Will Richard being key in the comeback with 18 points, 8 rebounds and two assists.
The Florida Gators guards will respond after Richard (5) plays against the Houston Cougars in the second half of the final four national championship games of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. (Image of Bob Donnan-Immagn)
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Aramadome saw an amazing Final Four game. And the men’s basketball season was covered in one of the best fights between the two No. 1 seeds at the recent National Championships of Memory.
The Cougars were close to securing their first national championship in the program, but the Gators returned to the top for the first time in nearly 20 years after a fierce battle victory.
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