San Antonio, Texas – The Florida Gators are one win away from claiming their third national championship. They advanced to the title game after an impressive 79-73 victory over Southeastern Conference rival Auburn in the Final Four on Saturday night. The spotlight is firmly on Walter Clayton Jr., who has been on fire throughout the NCAA Tournament.
Clayton delivered a stunning performance, scoring 34 points and making five 3-pointers against Auburn. This marks the first time since Larry Bird in 1979 that a player has scored 30 points in both the Elite Eight and semifinal rounds of the tournament. Gators guard Will Richard praised Clayton’s calm demeanor and work ethic, stating, “We see him practice, see his work ethic. We’re glad everybody else is getting to see him do it in a game.”
Florida’s road to the title has not been easy. Just to reach the Final Four, they needed Clayton’s late-game heroics in two previous games. In the second round, he scored 13 of his 23 points in the final minutes to knock out UConn, ending their hope of a third straight title. He then played a pivotal role in a comeback against Texas Tech last Sunday, nailing two crucial 3-pointers as Florida overcame a nine-point deficit.
In the game against Auburn, the Gators had a rocky start but came out strong in the second half, outscoring Auburn with a quick 13-3 run. Coach Todd Golden emphasized Clayton’s importance, saying, “He’s done what he’s done all year for us. In big moments, stepped up, hit huge shots, settled our team down and made winning plays when we needed it.” Florida hasn’t reached the national championship game since they won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
Auburn led for much of the first half, even holding an eight-point cushion at halftime. However, the Gators controlled the pace in the second half, switching the momentum in their favor. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl acknowledged the challenge posed by Clayton: “We couldn’t contain him down that end.”
As the teams head into the national championship game against Houston on Monday night, the Gators carry an impressive 11-game winning streak and a strong sense of team chemistry. The victory over Auburn was a landmark moment, and now Florida is on the brink of adding another championship trophy to their collection.
In an emotionally charged game, Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara led his team with 18 points, while Johni Broome contributed 15 points despite battling through an injured elbow. The determination of both teams was evident as they fought hard for the chance to compete for the title.
Florida is poised to achieve something special, with their eyes set on making history once again.
