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Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship: National Championship Game Recap

The 2025 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship has ended at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, where Florida defeated Houston 65 to 63 to win their third national title and first since 2007.

(No. 1) Florida def. (No. 1) Houston 65-63

Florida comes back from a 12-point second-half deficit to beat Houston 65 to 63 and win the national championship in an instant classic title game. Florida’s comeback was sparked late by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., who overcame a cold start to deliver when it mattered most toward the end of the game.

Houston’s defense held Clayton scoreless for the entire first half and without a field goal until the final 7:54 of the game. After scoring a combined 64 points in his previous two tournament games, Clayton didn’t get on the scoreboard until hitting a pair of free throws at the 14:57 mark in the second half. Florida’s supporting cast kept the Gators within striking distance, setting the stage for Clayton’s late-game heroics.

Houston has been a strong offensive team all season and struggled early in the championship game. The Cougars shot just 2 for 14 from three-point range in the first half and failed to convert any of their six offensive rebounds into second-chance points. Despite those struggles, they held a 12-point lead early in the second half and were in position to pull away with a win.

However, the Gators didn’t fold. Clayton Jr. hit a game-tying three-pointer with 3:14 left to even the score at 60, shifting the momentum in Florida’s favor. He followed that up with a pair of crucial three-point plays down the stretch, finishing with 11 points, all in the second half.

L.J. Cryer, Houston’s leading scorer, was the offensive leader for the Cougars. He struggled in the first half with only five points but came alive after halftime, putting up 14 second-half points, including three three-pointers, to finish with a game-high 19 points.

The game came down to the final possession, where Florida’s defense came up with a clutch stop at the buzzer to seal the victory and bring home the national title.

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