Gators beat Cougars for national championship
MANILA, Philippines — Florida came back from a 12-point second-half deficit to beat Houston 65-63 in a nail-biting thriller, claiming their third national championship in NCAA men’s basketball on Monday.
Senior Will Richard led the scoring for the Gators with 18 points in Florida’s first trip to the title game since they last won in 2007, while Australian forward Alex Condon came up with the game-clinching loose ball.
Houston appeared well on their way to their first-ever title as their smothering defense neutralized Florida’s best weapon Walter Clayton Jr. through the first half but they could not hang on against an energized Gators offense.
“We did what we did all year – we stayed the course,” said head coach Todd Golden, 39, the youngest head coach to win the NCAA title since 1983.
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