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The national championship trophy is heading to Gainesville, Florida.
Behind another valiant comeback effort, Todd Golden and Florida basketball finished as the last team standing in the 68-team men's NCAA Tournament field with a 65-63 win over Houston in the national championship game.
REQUIRED READING: 'One Shining Moment' 2025: March Madness highlights after Florida national title
With Florida's win, Golden made some March Madness history himself, becoming the youngest coach to win a national championship since NC State's Jim Valvano in 1983.
Florida held Houston scoreless over the last 2:05 of the game while causing four turnovers over the course of the Cougars' final four possessions. But it wasn't until the final seconds that Alex Condon sealed the win for the Gators, when he jumped on the ball around halfcourt.
Houston guard Emanuel Sharp was forced to drop the ball while going up on a 3-point attempt, as he otherwise would have been called for traveling.
En route to its victory on Monday, Florida came back from both a 31-28 halftime deficit and a 12-point deficit at the 16:25 mark of the second half. It was the third consecutive game in the NCAA Tournament that the Gators had to come from behind in the second half.
The Gators also are the only national champion over the last 20 years to overcome a deficit of at least nine points in the Elite Eight, the Final Four and the national championship game, per ESPN.
Here's what you need to know from Monday's NCAA Tournament championship game, including a look at the box score, stats and highlights:
Florida defeated Houston 65-63 in the national championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, securing the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament national championship.
It is the third title in program history for the Gators, and their first since 2007. It is also the first men's title for the SEC since Kentucky in 2012, ending a 13-year drought for the conference.
REQUIRED READING: Most March Madness titles: Where does Florida rank after NCAA Tournament win?
Here's a breakdown of each team's stats from the national championship game:
Here's a look at the individual stat lines for the top three leading scorers on each team:
Here's a compilation of highlights from Monday night's national championship game between Florida and Houston:
Florida is tied with Villanova for the eighth-most NCAA Tournament championships following the Gators' win over Houston. Here is a full list of how many teams have at least two national championships since 1939, the first year of the NCAA Tournament:
* This does not include Louisville's 2013 national championship as it was vacated by the NCAA following an investigation
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida vs. Houston score: Who won March Madness 2025?
Continue reading...
Behind another valiant comeback effort, Todd Golden and Florida basketball finished as the last team standing in the 68-team men's NCAA Tournament field with a 65-63 win over Houston in the national championship game.
REQUIRED READING: 'One Shining Moment' 2025: March Madness highlights after Florida national title
With Florida's win, Golden made some March Madness history himself, becoming the youngest coach to win a national championship since NC State's Jim Valvano in 1983.
Florida held Houston scoreless over the last 2:05 of the game while causing four turnovers over the course of the Cougars' final four possessions. But it wasn't until the final seconds that Alex Condon sealed the win for the Gators, when he jumped on the ball around halfcourt.
Houston guard Emanuel Sharp was forced to drop the ball while going up on a 3-point attempt, as he otherwise would have been called for traveling.
En route to its victory on Monday, Florida came back from both a 31-28 halftime deficit and a 12-point deficit at the 16:25 mark of the second half. It was the third consecutive game in the NCAA Tournament that the Gators had to come from behind in the second half.
The Gators also are the only national champion over the last 20 years to overcome a deficit of at least nine points in the Elite Eight, the Final Four and the national championship game, per ESPN.
Here's what you need to know from Monday's NCAA Tournament championship game, including a look at the box score, stats and highlights:
Who won March Madness 2025?
Florida defeated Houston 65-63 in the national championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, securing the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament national championship.
It is the third title in program history for the Gators, and their first since 2007. It is also the first men's title for the SEC since Kentucky in 2012, ending a 13-year drought for the conference.
REQUIRED READING: Most March Madness titles: Where does Florida rank after NCAA Tournament win?
Florida-Houston score
| Teams | 1H | 2H | F |
| Florida | 28 | 37 | 65 |
| Houston | 31 | 32 | 63 |
Florida-Houston stats
Here's a breakdown of each team's stats from the national championship game:
- Field goal percentage: Florida 21 of 53 (39.6%) | Houston 24 of 69 (34.8%)
- 3-point percentage: Florida 6 of 24 (25%) | Houston 6 of 25 (24%)
- Rebounds: Florida 40 | Houston 39
- Turnovers: Florida 13 | Houston Nine
- Points Off Turnovers: Florida 10 | Houston Nine
- Bench Points: Houston 17 | Florida 14
- Paint Points: Florida 28 | Houston 24
- Assists: Florida 14 | Houston Six
Here's a look at the individual stat lines for the top three leading scorers on each team:
- Will Richard (Florida): 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block
- Alex Condon (Florida): 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds and four steals
- Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida): 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting with seven assists, five rebounds, a steal and a block
- L.J. Cryer (Houston): 19 points on 6-of-18 shooting with six rebounds, two assists and a steal
- Mylik Wilson (Houston): Nine points on 4-of-9 shooting with two rebounds, a block, an assist and a steal
- Emanuel Sharp (Houston): Eight points on 3-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and an assist
March Madness highlights from Florida-Houston game
Here's a compilation of highlights from Monday night's national championship game between Florida and Houston:
Most national championships
Florida is tied with Villanova for the eighth-most NCAA Tournament championships following the Gators' win over Houston. Here is a full list of how many teams have at least two national championships since 1939, the first year of the NCAA Tournament:
- 1. UCLA: 11 titles
- 2. Kentucky: Eight
- T-3. North Carolina: Six
- T-3. Connecticut: Six
- T-5. Duke: Five
- T-5. Indiana: Five
- 7. Kansas: Four
- T-8. Villanova: Three
- T-8. Florida: Three
- T-10. Cincinnati: Two
- T-10. Louisville: Two *
- T-10. Michigan State: Two
- T-10. N.C. State: Two
- T-10. Oklahoma State: Two
- T-10. San Francisco: Two
* This does not include Louisville's 2013 national championship as it was vacated by the NCAA following an investigation
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida vs. Houston score: Who won March Madness 2025?
Continue reading...
