Florida wins its third national title and denies Houston its first

SAN ANTONIO — Florida Edges Out Houston in Thrilling NCAA Title Game

Florida and Walter Clayton Jr. defied the odds and outlasted Houston’s tough defense in a nail-biting 65-63 victory in the NCAA championship game. The game came down to the final seconds, with Clayton making a crucial defensive play to secure the win for the Gators.

Clayton, who scored all 11 of his points in the second half, will be remembered for his game-saving stop against Houston’s Emanuel Sharp. As Sharp attempted a game-winning 3-pointer, Clayton rushed towards him, causing Sharp to lose control of the ball and ultimately run out of time as the clock expired.

Will Richard led the way for the Gators with 18 points, helping them capture their third NCAA title and their first since 2007. On the other side, Houston and coach Kelvin Sampson fell just short of their first championship, finishing the season with a 35-5 record.

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