In an electrifying NCAA men's basketball final in San Antonio, Texas, the University of Florida Gators overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat the University of Houston Cougars 65-63.
Houston got off to a strong start, led by L.J. Cryer who finished with a game-high 19 points, while their tight defense kept Florida sharpshooter Walter Clayton scoreless in the first half. But the Gators weren’t backing down!
Florida rallied behind standout performances from Will Richard, who scored 18 points, and Walter Clayton, who added 11 clutch points down the stretch to earn tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
The final minutes were a heart-stopper. After Cryer’s putback gave Houston a 62-60 lead with just 2.5 minutes remaining, free throws turned the tide. Timely shots from Alijah Martin and Denzel Aberdeen in the closing seconds sealed the win for the Gators.
Adding to the drama, Florida's 39-year-old bench boss Todd Golden made history as the youngest coach to lift the NCAA trophy since Jim Valvano did it at 37 during the 1983 final. What a nail-biting finish that has college basketball fans talking! 🏀🔥
Reference(s):
Florida squeaks past Houston to capture NCAA men's basketball title
cgtn.com
