08-04-2025
Florida Gators defeat Houston Cougars in NCAA championship
The Houston Cougars fell to the Florida Gators in Monday's NCAA men's basketball championship game.
Why it matters: The loss was the Coogs' first national championship try since 1984 and signifies the team's growth in the last decade.
Driving the news: The Florida Gators outscored Houston 65-63 in the March Madness finale in San Antonio.
Catch up quick: Houston blew through most of the competition in this year's tournament, topping SIU Edwardsville, Gonzaga, Purdue and Tennessee before facing the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four.
Duke led for nearly the entire game, but Houston went on a 9-0 scoring run in the last 35 seconds to secure the victory.
The intrigue: Despite the championship loss, it's the furthest the team has gotten in March Madness since Phi Slama Jama greats like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler contended for back-to-back championships in the mid-1980s.
The Coogs' recent success is thanks to veteran coach Kelvin Sampson, who took over the team in the 2014-15 season after years of losing seasons and zero March Madness wins since 1984.
