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Houston fails to get a shot off in final seconds as Florida wins national championship (0:21)

Down 12 in the second half, Florida holds on in the final seconds to complete its comeback and win its third national championship. (0:21)

The Florida Gators are once again national champions.

The Gators beat the Houston Cougars 65-63 on Monday night, securing the program’s third men’s basketball title and first since going back-to-back in 2006 and 2007.

Florida overcame a 12-point deficit to win, tied for the third largest comeback in a national championship game all-time. The Gators are now tied for the second-most national titles by any school since 2000, according to ESPN Research. At 39 years old, Todd Golden is the youngest head coach to win a national championship since Jim Valvano (37 years old) in 1983, also against Houston.

Will Richard led Florida with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Alex Condon had 12 points. Houston guard L.J. Cryer scored a game-high 19 points.

A couple of NBA stars led reactions from around the sports world to Florida’s title.

Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin🫡💯

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 8, 2025

Wow! What a game!

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 8, 2025

Congrats, @GatorsMBK! 🐊 pic.twitter.com/IqQwbX1eVm

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2025

Let’s go!!! 🐊🐊🐊🐊 https://t.co/C0pAZtjnmx

— Corey Brewer (@TheCoreyBrewer) April 8, 2025

Great game 🔥 congrats Florida!!! #MarchMadness

— Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) April 8, 2025

LFGGGG!!!! 🐊🐊🐊🐊 NATIONAL CHAMPS BABY ‼️

— Dante fowler (@dantefowler) April 8, 2025

Gainesvilleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

— Tre Mann (@tre2mann3) April 8, 2025

Damn

— Quentin Grimes (@qdotgrimes) April 8, 2025

😢

— Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10) April 8, 2025