Florida Wins Its 3rd National Title and Denies Houston Its 1st, Rallying for 65–63 Victory

Florida Wins Its 3rd National Title and Denies Houston Its 1st, Rallying for 65–63 Victory
Florida's Micah Handlogten (3) and Walter Clayton Jr. celebrate after Florida beat Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament in San Antonio, Texas, on April 7, 2025. Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo
The Associated Press
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SAN ANTONIO— Florida and Walter Clayton Jr. somehow overcame Houston’s spirit-crushing defense Monday night to will out a 65–63 victory in an NCAA title-game thriller not decided until Clayton’s own D stopped the Cougars from taking a game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Clayton finished with 11 points, all in the second half, but what he’ll be remembered for most was getting Houston’s Emanuel Sharp to stop in the middle of his motion as he tried to go up for the game-winning 3 in the final seconds.