After two competitive Final Four games — one of which was an instant classic — the Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship was a nail biter as the Florida Gators defeated the Houston Cougars 65-63.
Houston held a comfortable lead well into the second half before Florida tied it up with 7:54 remaining.
During a time out after Florida evened the score, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson wrote one word on the white board for his team: “Toughness.” That’s been his team’s trademark and what brought them back when they were down 64-55 in the Final Four against tournament blue bloods Duke with only two minutes left to play. And they responded again tonight, taking back the lead with their trademark physicality and hustle.
But Florida wasn’t done, either, and the lead seesawed back and forth by one point into the game’s final seconds. A heads-up defensive strip by Florida’s Will Richard had the ball careen off the knee of Houston’s Emanuel Sharp created a critical turnover which the Gators’ Denzel Aberdeen converted into one more point off a free throw. The Gators defense then stifled Houston’s final attempt with Florida forward Alex Condon diving on a loose ball to regain possession as time ran out.
Florida last won the Tournament in 2007. Houston has never won the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship.
