They defeated the Houston Cougars in a thrilling championship game 65–63 that literally went down to the last second. As the score indicates, Houston was the better team for much of the game. With just over three minutes remaining, the unthinkable happened, bringing a gut-wrenching end to the hopes of a team seeking its first title in 80 years.
Among them, LJ Cryer led the scoreboard with 19 for the Bears. He was one of the key players in helping Houston keep an early lead for nearly the entirety of the game. Down the stretch, things went south for the Cougars in a hurry. They turned the ball over 4 times and didn’t record a shot on their last 4 possessions. This epic topple was their third turn as the bridesmaid in NCAA championship history. When the chips were down, they just weren’t able to win the big one.
Then with just five seconds left, Emanuel Sharp, standing above the arc, received the inbounds pass. The time was short and the pressure was on. Just as the horn rang, Alex Condon jumped to the floor to grab the resultant loose ball. His goal clinched Florida’s historic win and sent their sideline into a tidal wave of jubilation.
In the final minutes, Walter Clayton emerged as the hero for Florida. He still managed to score 11 points and make the game’s most impactful defensive play. His efforts played a huge role in Florida’s last-minute, come-from-behind run that upset a runaway favorite Houston team.
The Cougars showed great poise, turning the ball over just four times during the game’s first 36 minutes and 35 seconds of action. They stumbled and bumbled their way into the final moment where it really counted.
“We thought this was a game that if we played well, we could win,” said Cryer. “And we did play well. We just didn’t play very good the last three minutes.”
With the loss hitting especially hard for Houston’s seniors due to the emotional goodbye it brought to their collegiate careers. J’Wan Roberts expressed his disappointment poignantly, stating,
“I wanted it so bad for him. So, so, so bad. And it hurts. This was my last time wearing the jersey, and I feel terrible.”
Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson didn’t mince words with the team’s shortcomings in those closing seconds.
“That’s been a strength of ours all year long, was winning close games,” he noted, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events.
A quick shoutout to the Cougars, who had been gradually building momentum before reaching the pinnacle of the championship battle. When it was crunch time, they completely fell apart. Even with a strong showing for the majority of the game, they didn’t succeed in achieving their intended outcome.
Sampson stressed the need for situational practice in the days before the game, saying,
“We work on that stuff in practice… Jumping to the side so you don’t foul the shooter, staying down on pump fakes.”
His team’s late-game execution would come back to haunt his team when it mattered most.
As Florida players celebrated by storming the court, Houston’s dreams of glory dissolved into air. The Gators celebrated with jubilation and relief as they finally won a championship. On the other hand, the Cougars were forced to come to terms with their near-miss, reeling from what might have been.