Resilient Florida relies on defense and playmakers to overcome frustration in NCAA title game
Resilient Florida relies on defense and playmakers to overcome frustration in NCAA title game
Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida celebrates after beating Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida forward Alex Condon celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida celebrates after beating Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida forward Alex Condon celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dribbles bounced off hips, no-look passes went to no one and Florida's talisman point guard couldn't make a basket.
And when the Gators' bench was assessed a technical foul early the second half, a frustrating night was hitting its peak.
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But then the resilient Gators came alive as they fought back from a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat Houston 65-63 in the NCAA title game for the the school's third national championship.
A blocked 3-pointer by Thomas Haugh led to his spinning layup and three-point play. Walter Clayton Jr., scoreless in the first half, tied the game three times in the second half.
And the Gators created their own version of Houston's suffocating defense that had stifled them for so much of the first half.
As Houston looked for the winning 3-pointer in the final seconds, Clayton forced Houston's Emmanuel Sharp to abandon the shot. Sharp had to let the ball go, creating a mad scramble as Florida's 6-foot-11 Alex Condon fully extended, diving to the floor to get it.
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The Gators had looked completely out of sync in the first half.
Nothing was working for Clayton, who had scored 30 and 34 points in the previous two games to carry his team to the final.
That meant other players had to step up.
'We have 20 minutes. Let's set the tone!' Will Richard told his Florida teammates in a huddle just outside the locker room at halftime.
Richard had kept Florida in the game with four first-half 3-pointers. Condon, who finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, did the work on the defensive end with a key role in holding Houston's muscular J'Wan Roberts to eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.
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And as usual, Clayton delivered the biggest moments in the rally as he tied the game three times, the first two on spinning layups for three-point plays and the last with a contested 3-pointer.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
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