Florida Gators Reach Final Four with Thrilling Comeback
Walter Clayton Jr. Hits Two Late 3-Pointers to Secure 84-79 Victory Over Texas Tech
SAN FRANCISCO — Walter Clayton Jr. rescued top-seeded Florida with two late 3-pointers, and the Gators rallied from nine points down late to reach the Final Four with an 84-79 victory over Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final on Saturday.
The Gators (34-4) trailed 75-66 with less than three minutes to play before staging a furious rally against the third-seeded Red Raiders (28-9), who had done the same in the Sweet 16 against Arkansas.
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Clayton dribbled out of the paint and hit a fadeaway 3 with 59 seconds left to give Florida a 78-77 lead, and the Gators held on from there to advance to their first Final Four since 2014 in coach Todd Golden’s third season. Florida will face the South Region champion — either Auburn or Michigan State — next Saturday in San Antonio.
Sports Roundup
Coach Todd Golden’s Return to the Bay Area
The comeback provided a happy ending to Golden’s return to the Bay Area, where he played in college at Saint Mary’s and got his start as a head coach at San Francisco.
As the final horn sounded, Golden turned to the Gators fans and demonstrably pumped his fist as his players rushed out to the court to celebrate a victory that looked improbable just a few minutes earlier.
Top Performers
Clayton, who began his college career at Iona, scored 30 points to lead the Gators. Thomas Haugh added 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Haugh started the comeback with two 3-pointers. Clayton then tied it with his shot from long range after Texas Tech missed a second straight front end of a one-and-one.
After Darrius Williams scored down low for Texas Tech, Clayton’s last 3 put Florida ahead to stay, and the Gators sealed it at the foul line.
Texas Tech’s Late-Game Struggles
Williams missed two 3s late. He had sank the game-tying basket late in regulation and game-winner in the closing seconds of overtime against Arkansas on Thursday night.
Texas Tech fell just short of its second Final Four trip ever after being on the wrong side of a late-game comeback. The Red Raiders rallied from 13 points in the final five minutes to beat the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16.
Williams scored 23 points to lead Texas Tech and JT Toppin added 20.
Game Summary
The game was tight most of the way with neither team able to build a lead bigger than six points for the first 30 minutes as Texas Tech capitalized on turnovers and second-chance points and Florida repeatedly got to the foul line. Clayton got fouled twice on 3-pointers early in the second half, leading to five points on the six foul shots.
The Red Raiders went on a 12-2 run to go up by 10 but couldn’t hold on late.
Other News
Find more Texas Tech coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Conclusion
The Florida Gators’ thrilling comeback victory over Texas Tech has secured their spot in the Final Four. With this win, the Gators have proven their determination and resilience, and they will face the South Region champion next Saturday in San Antonio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who led the Florida Gators in scoring?
A: Walter Clayton Jr. led the Florida Gators with 30 points.
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The final score was 84-79 in favor of the Florida Gators.
Q: Who will the Gators face in the Final Four?
A: The Gators will face the South Region champion, either Auburn or Michigan State, next Saturday in San Antonio.
