College Basketball

Final Four 2025: Fans Respond To Florida Causing Houston Late Problems, Earning 2025 Men’s Basketball National Title

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published08 Apr 2025

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colbb florda gators win title (1) (2)

When it came to floor spacing during the final 19 seconds Monday night, the Houston Cougars’ showed little movement or decisive action. 

When it came to the final shot at winning the 2025 men’s college basketball title, Florida Gators defender Walter Clayton Jr. aggressively closed out on shooter Emanuel Sharp, who dropped the ball to avoid getting rejected. Unable to grab the basketball, or he would have been called for traveling, Alex Condon jumped on the loose ball, securing the Gators’ 65-63 victory over the Cougars, who led for nearly 39 minutes. 

Then, it got away from coach Kelvin Sampson’s club, seeking its first Final Four championship. 

When it came to closing the finale strong, the Gators, who made a habit of creating second-half rallies this season, earned their third national title. 

X (Twitter) users responded to Houston running into big offensive problems on its final possession Monday night … 

The 2025 men’s basketball national championship matchup … 

The tip … 

Displaying early physicality, Houston’s J’Wan Roberts executed a block two seconds after Florida’s Alijah Martin missed a dunk attempt … 

Assisted by L.J. Cryer, Ja’vier Francis helped the Cougars shake off their early shooting funk with a dunk at 14:51 of the first half … 

Sparking a flurry of action for Houston, Cryer hit a deep triple, sparking an 8-0 run. The triple was the Cougars’ first after missing their first eight attempts. Mylik Wilson followed by converting an alley-oop dunk from Sharp … 

Trailing 45-34 with 14:07 remaining in the second half, the Gators tied the score at 48 on Clayton free throw with 7:54 left … 

The Gators led for only 17 seconds the entire game before Martin connected on two free throws with 46 seconds remaining, giving the Gators a 64-63 lead. Martin scored what proved to be the winning points … 

The Gators celebrated their first national title since winning back-to-back in 2006 and ‘07. The D-I program is the first to claim three football and men’s basketball championships … 

Rushing the home court in Gainesville, Florida …