Florida 65 vs 63 Houston summary stats, scores and highlights | NCAA National Championship

No surprise here. After scoring 30+ in the Elite 8 and the Final Four, Walter Clayton Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. He ended the night with 11 points, but he picked the right time to get hot and changed the game once he saw the ball go in the basket. 

For the third time in school history, the Florida Gators are National Champions. Their last one came in 2007, and it was the second of a back to back title run. It's time to celebrate, but the Gators will be thinking about a repeat soon after seeing UCON do so for the last two years. 

Todd Golden and the Florida Gators are the best team in the country. He's been there for three years. He's just 39 years old. He is the second youngest coach to win the Big Dance since Jim Valvano. This might be the start of an era in Gainesville. 

The Cougars didn't even get a shot up in their final possession of the game, and that is credit to the fantastic defense from Florida. It changed the game in the second half and it spurred the third largest come back in National Championship history. 

The Gators took the lead with free throws from from Alijah Martin with 46 seconds to go after not leading since the first few minutes of the game. They had the lead for 1:03 of the forty minutes, but it's not about how long you lead. It's about who is leading when the clock his zero. Houston had a couple chances to take the lead but Sharp bounced this dribble off his knee, leaving the Cougars with one final chance. 

Houston wasn't going down without a fight. They would take the lead back every time Florida would tie up the game, and Cryer got the tip in as the smallest guy on the floor. That would be the Cougars final field goal of the night as the Gators defense locked down for the final 2:30. 

The Gators tied it up with 8:00 to go, but they couldn't pull ahead no matter how hard they tried. The Cougars were clawing to their lead, but little by little Clayton Jr. wore them down. Florida didn't have the lead since the early minutes of the game, but they were getting close and everyone in the Alamodome could feel it. 

He did it against Texas Tech, he did it against UCONN, he did it against Houston in the National Championship. There may not be a more clutch player in the game than Clayton over the last month. When his team needed him, he stepped up. 

It took 32 minutes for Walter Clayton Jr. to get his first field goal of the night, but once he saw the ball go in the basket he started rolling. 

Florida took a page out of Houston's playbook, turning up the defense which led to easy points on the other end. Thomas Haugh's block and bucket with the foul started to turn the tide in San Antonio on Monday night. 

Martin has a couple of huge dunks in the Final Four game against the Auburn Tigers. He had 7 points on Monday night, but this three came at a huge moment as the Gators were building up some momentum after going down by 12 early in the half. 

Despite getting dominated in the first half, they Gators continued to fight and went into the halftime break down by just three points. The came into the second half cold, which allowed the Cougars to build up a 12 point lead with an 11-2 run in the opening minutes of the half. Clayton still couldn't buy a bucket but he did drop 7 assists while he waited for his shot to show up. 

Will Richard had four threes in the first half, and 14 of the 28 points the Gators scored heading into halftime. He carried them when no one else could get going. 

When this bank shot went in from downtown for Wilson, the Gators had to be thinking that this wasn't their night, but they continued to fight, they continued to scrap and they continued to stay in the game. 

The game was going exactly according to plan for the Cougars who knew they weren't going to blow out the Gators. Defensively they were outstanding, but they had trouble shooting the ball. Their best offense was often their defense sparking fast breaks. 

Cryer started to get going and all of the sudden it looked like he was going to start to heat up. He ended the night with 19 points, but he shot just 6/18 from the field. 

Will Richard was doing everything for the Gators on the offensive end in the second half. Clayton didn't score until after halftime, but Richard who had a rough game against Auburn turned it on in the first half. 

Houston forced 9 turnovers in the first half, and those turned into easy points on the other end more often than not. The defense was the story for Houston all year, and it was the story in the first half. 

Neither Walter Clayton Jr. nor LJ Cryer got going in the first half and that meant it was going to be up to the other guys to carry the load. Sharp and the rest of the Cougars all chipped in during the first half and kept the Cougars in control for 20 minutes. 

Florida went cold as Francis posterized his defender and Houston was able to build up a lead that they would take into the second half. The physicality of the Cougars overwhelmed the Gators in the first half, but Houston could never pull away from Florida who just stuck around until it was time to strike. 

As always, it was Houston's defense that set the tone for the Cougars and they had the Gators spinning in circles. This was a game between to teams with contrasting styles and in the first half, Houston was playing their brand of basketball. They slowed the game down. Played in the half court and kept Florida from running. 

The Florida Gators are National Champions for the third time in school history and they did it making another second half comeback over the Houston Cougars. Will Richard led the Gators with 18 points, but it was Walter Clayton Jr. who turned it on in the second half to lead his team to the 65-63 win. 

It wasn't a pretty start for the Gators who led just 17 seconds in the first half and that was in the first few minutes of the game. Houston's defense suffocated the stars of Florida and the Cougars controlled the first 20 minutes of the game. 

THE FLORIDA GATORS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY!!!! 

ANOTHER COMEBACK FROM THE CARDIAC GATORS, AND THIS ONE IS GOOD FOR A TITLE!!!

FLORIDA WINS!!!!

Sharp went up for the shot but was covered and bounced it off the floor!! He didn't pick it up as both teams scrambled for the loose ball and the clock ran out!!!!

Clayton almost threw it away but Aberdeen chased it down and gets fouled. He goes to the line and hits one of two FTs with 19.7 to go. 

Timeout Houston, that's their last. 

The play is going to be reviewed but it was pretty clear. 

Sharp lost it off his thigh and it's FLA ball with 26.5 to go!!

Timeout Houston with 46 seconds to go in the National Championship!!!

Matin to the line after the foul on Tugler, his fifth, and he hits both FT and the Gators lead for the first time since the first minutes of the game!!

Fight for the rebound under the HOU basket and it went off Tugler last. FLA ball with 1:21 to go in the 2nd half. 

Tugler to the line after the foul on Condon and he hits one of two FTs with 2:05 to go. 

Richard fouled by Uzan and he hits both FTs with 2:18 to go.

Cryer follows up his own miss with a tip in to keep HOU in the lead wit 2:30 to go!

Clayton Jr. ties it with a three ball off the curl from the top of the key out of the timeout!!!

We are at the final TV timeout of the night with 3:24 to go in the 2nd half. 

Houston are hanging on against a Florida team that has only led for 17 seconds, and that was way back in the opening minutes of the game. 

Roberts missed the jumper but Francis came crashing in for the tip slam!!!

Richard was fouled away from the basket and he hits both FTs. 

Sharp with back to back buckets on each side of the timeout. He sliced through the lane and laid it up off the glass. 

Haugh with the slip pass across the lane for Condon who slams it down!

Timeout Florida with 5:32 to go in the 2nd half. 

Sharp spots up from the wing and drills the three ball!

Aberdeen on the baseline drive and he readjusts and lays it up and in. 

Wilson down low and he tear drops it after spinning off a defender. 

Clayton on the back door cut and Haugh found him for the lay up and the foul!!! FT is good! He's got 8 points and we are tied. 

Roberts fouled by Chinyelu and he smashes the ball off the floor and gets T'd up. Cryer makes both FTs and Roberts hits one of two. 

FT is good from Clayton and we are tied up here from San Antonio!!!

Clayton with his first field goal of the night on a lay up down the left side of the lane. AND 1 after the foul on Arceneaux. This is his time to shine. He's done it before and he might be gearing up to do it again. 

Clayton at the line after the TV timeout with 7:54 to go. 

Chinyelu fouled by Francis and he hits one of two FTs at the line. Francis and Tugler each have four fouls. 

Aberdeen to te line after the foul on Tugler and he hits both FTs. It's a four point game with 9:00 to go. 

Handlogten to the line after the foul on Wilson but he misses both FTs. 

Cryer drills the three ball from the corner to break up the Gators run!

Haugh to the line and he his the FT after the timeout. 

Haugh blocked the three ball by Cryer and he ends up laying it up and in and gets the foul on Uzan! He's going to the line after the timeout by Houston with 12:06 to go in the second half. 

Martin sinks the three ball from the top of the key and could that get this Florida offense going? 

Aberdeen takes it to the bucket and lays it up on the right side. 

Sharp to the line after the foul on Clayton and he hits one of two FTs. 

Roberts off a tough angle and he banks it in. 

Clayton hits both FTs out of the timeout. Those are his first points of the. night. 

Clayton fouled and he'll go to the line after the TV timeout with 14:57 to go in the 2nd half. 

Condon with another pick and roll that leads to a jam off the Clayton feed. That breaks the run from HOU over the last five minutes. 

Timeout Houston as Francis was falling out of bounds with 15:48 to go in the 2nd half. 

Roberts on the jump hook in the lane and he gets the roll of the heel of the rim. 

Cryer off the inbound and he drills the three ball in the corner!! Largest lead of the night fo Houston. 

Ricahrd called for an offensive foul, and then a blocking foul on the other end. A technical was called on the FLA bench and Cryer hits one of two FTs. 

Uzon to the line after the foul on Clayton and he hits both FTs. 

Clayton with another dish this time to Condon off the pick and roll for the slam. 

Three ball off the step back from Cryer after just 5 points in that first half. 

WE ARE BACK IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!

Richard has 4 threes and 14 points after 20 minutes. He has half of the Gators points but he is going to need some help in the second half. 

The Cougars are just 2/14 from the three point. line but their defense has been enough to counter the poor shooting from long range. 

We saw it last game against Duke. The defense turns into easy offense and that's when this team is at their best. 

Neither of the top scorers are performing tonight, but at least LJ Cryer is on the board. He's got five points but is just 1/5 from DT and 2/6 from the field. 

If it wasn't for Will Richard, where would this team be? He got the first three ball to go for FLA after the Gators went 0/6 from downtown. 

The Cougars have forced FLA into 9 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of the game. They have played the game they have wanted, but lead by just 3. 

This is Uzon's game. He loves to get around the bucket and drop that little off balanced floater. 

It's not just defense. The Cougars can drop some highlights on the defenses head and that's what Francis did early in the first half. He's got 6 and 4 rebounds. 

Sharp had a huge last couple minutes against Duke. He only scored one bucket in the first half, but seven of eight Cougars that have played have scored. 

Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. have been held to 0 points a piece. That tells you how locked in Houston is on the defensive end. 

These two teams play completely different styles and so far it's Houston imposing their will. They came out with Tugler and got the first bucket of the game and have led for the first 20 minutes. 

WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM SAN ANTONIO!!!

HOUSTON DOMINATED THAT FIRST HALF BUT THEY LEAD BY JUST THREE. 

Timeout Cougars with 31.4 to go in the half. 

Richard with another three ball, his fourth of the night and he's got 14 of the 28 Florida points so far. 

Cryer off the dribble and he drills it from the elbow. 

2:00 to go in the first half. 

Richard with a deep two in the corner and he's got 11 on the night. 

Condon breaks the Houston run with a lay up off the slip screen and pass from Richard out of the timeout. 

Timeout Florida with 4:46 to go in the 1st half!!!

Wilson from the wing and he banks the three in!!! 8-0 run from the Cougars!!!

Francis with the big block on one end and that sparks the break on the other end for Wilson to slam down the alley oop from the lob by Sharp!!

Cryer pulls up from deep and hits it over two defenders from the logo!!!

Richard ties the game from the corner and he's got three of those already!!!

Roberts to the line after the foul on Haugh and he hits one of two. 

Martin on the curl to the bucket out of the timeout and he lays it up and in. 

TV timeout here from San Antonio with 7:42 to go in the 1st half. 

Francis banging back down low and he gets the soft touch to go off the glass from the block. 

Richard with back to back threes and the Gators need to see some deep balls go down to open up this defense. 

Francis with the post move in the paint and he gets the tough lay in to fall. 

Richard in the corner and he strokes the three after the Gators started 0/6 from DT. 

Wilson with the steal out of the timeout and he takes it for the finger roll on the other end. 

TV timeout with 10:18 to go in the 1st half, and it's Houston making Florida play their pace in the first 10 minutes of this game. 

Roberts off the dribble and he hits the baby hook over Condon. 

Uzon to the left side and he his the floater from outside the lane. 

Haugh with the offensive rebound off the Clayton miss and he slams it back home. 

Francis out of the timeout and he goes up and over the defender and smashes it on his head!!!

It's tied up here in San Antonio going to the first TV timeout with 15:05 to go in the first half. 

Sharp on the step back from the baseline and he gets on the board with a mid range jumper. 

Clayton with a half court lob to Handlogten for the transition slam. 

Clayton Jr. down low for Chinyelu who smashes it home underneath the bucket. 

Tugler with his second bucket of the night, this time Cryer hit him off the pick and roll from outside the lane. 

Condon to the line after the foul on Roberts and he hits both FTs. 

Uzon with a step on the defender and he hangs it high off the glass with the floater from the left side. 

Clayton finds Condon on the break and he flushes it home with a wide open jam. 

Tugler into the lane and he hits the floater off the dribble. 

HERE WE GO!!! 

THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IS UNDERWAY FROM SAN ANTONIO!!!

The starters are being announced from the Alamadome and we are just minutes away from tip off to the National Championship Game. Florida vs Houston. 40 minutes. One winner. It's coming up next. 

Tourney history: Florida 

The Florida Gators are just two games away from bringing back title glory to Gainesville. This is their first Final Four since 2014, but Todd Golden has revived this program who had a two year reign two decades ago, winning back to back titles in 2006 and 2007. Here they are back in the Final Four, their sixth overall in school history. If they win tonight Florida will be back in the title game for the third time ever. 

Tourney history: Houston

Kelvin Sampson has brought the Cougars back to the national scene after decades of irrelevance in the NCAA tournament. They went to the Final four here straight years in the 80s and went to two national championships but lost both of those in 1983 and 1984. They are back in the Final Four for the second time in the last five years and now they have a chance to bring the University of Houston their first title ever.  

Star watch: Florida

The Florida Gators wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for their standout guard Walter Clayton Jr. He has saved them in multiple occasions during the Big Dance, and he is set for the biggest night of his career. He has gone for 23 or more in four of five tournament games. He had 34 in the Final Four, 30 in the Elite Eight and seems to be getting better and better as the tournament goes on. He’s averaging 24.6 points a game in the tourney, having a huge boost from his 18.5 ppg during the regalar season. Tonight you can’t count the Gators out, no matter how much they are down by because they have WCJ. 

Star watch: Houston

The star of the show for the Cougars is their defense. That carried them to the Final Four, and it carried them against Duke on Saturday night. LJ Cryer had to have a big night against Duke, and he carried them for the first half. He had half of their points at halftime on Saturday, and he is averaging 18.6 ppg in the Big Dance. He has gone for 26 and 30 points in two of the five games in the tournament. Tonight Houston are going to need a big game from their big star tonight on the biggest stage. 

How they got here: Florida

The Florida Gators weren’t exactly shoe-ins to get to this point of the tournament at the start of the season. Todd Golden’s team came into the campaign ranked 21st in the country, but quickly rose up the rankings after a 13-0 start to the season. Their first loss came to Kentucky, but rebounded against top ranked Tennessee in their next game. They played the Vols two more times, once in Tennessee which they lost and again in the SEC Tournament. The Gators won that game to win the conference title and head into the Big Dance on a six game win streak, beating five ranked teams during that span. Florida earned the one seed, breezed past Norfolk State, but barley squeaked by the two time defending champions, UCONN. Then they knocked out Maryland in comfortable Sweet 16 match before having to make late comebacks against Texas Tech and Auburn in the last two rounds.

How they got here: Houston

Houston was on the national radar from the start. They came into the season ranked 4th in the country and stayed at the top of the rankings all year. They lost to Auburn in the second game of the season and, then lost to Alabama in OT three games later. San Diego State stunned them to hand them their third loss in the first seven games in the season, but then they would rattle off 26 of their next 27 including a Big 12 Championship over Arizona. They got a one seed coming into the tournament and eased past SIU Edwardsville by 38 in the opening round, then edged by Gonzaga in the second round. Purdue gave them maybe their toughest test in the Sweet 16 in a game Houston won 62-60 to set up a match up with Tennessee. The dominated the Vols in the Elite Eight but needed some late game heroics to get back Duke on Saturday. 

LAST GAME: HOUSTON 

The Cougars went up against the Duke Blue Devils and the AP National Player of the Year, and it didn’t get off to the best start for Houston. They scored just 9 points in the first 10 minutes of the game, and spent most of the game trailing the Dukies. The defense jolted the offense at the end of the first half and Houston was able to chip into the lead before halftime thanks to the sharp shooting of LJ Cryer who ended the night with 26 points. Cooper Flagg put the Blue Devils back up in command coming out of the break. He had 27 points and 7 rebounds, and Duke led by 14 with less than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter but again, Houston’s defense came through in the clutch. They held Duke to just one field goal while Emanuel Sanders and the Cougars made a miraculous come back. J’Wuan Roberts put the Cougars in the lead from the FT line with 19 seconds to go. Flagg got one more chance to win it for Duke but missed his fade away and the Cougars held on for a historic win.

Last game: Florida

Florida went up against Auburn in an All-SEC national semifinal and had a lot of trouble dealing with big man Johni Broome in the first half. They got dominated inside for the first 20 minutes but coach Todd Golden made some adjustments at halftime and that contained the Tigers production in the paint. Walter Clayton Jr. went into take over mode in the second half, and not for the first time this tournament. They Gators have had to come back in the second half a couple times already but Clayton went wild in the second half against the Tigers. The Tigers scored just 27 points after scoring 46 in the first half, and Clayton put Florida in the lead with under 7 minutes to go. They would start in the lead for the rest of the game as Clayton posted  34 points in a game to remember from San Antonio.

We are live from San Antonio

Hello everyone and welcome to the Alamodome where there is just one game left after three weekends, five rounds, and 66 games, and it all comes down to this. The Houston Cougars and the Florida Gators are forty minutes away from the National Title. The Cougars have used their stingy defense to get to this point of the tournament and never needed it more than last game against Duke when they went on a huge late game run to complete a historic comeback in the Final Four. The Gators were in a load of trouble in their Final Four game on Saturday but they clawed their way back against the Auburn Tigers to get back to the National Championship for the first time in almost 20 years. 

Florida vs. Houston

It’s the final song of the Big Dance and 68 teams have been narrowed down to just two teams, and tonight we crown the new king of college basketball. The Florida Gators are in the title game for the first time since 2007, and looking to bring the National Championship back to Gainesville. The Houston Cougars have been to the title game twice but have a chance to win their first Championship in school history. It’s the Gators and the Cougars from San Antonio and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game.