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The Florida Gators are the 2025 NCAA men's basketball national champions for the third time in program history.
The Gators defeated the Houston Cougars, 65-63, during the March Madness Tournament Final at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Monday (April 7) night. The Gators rallied back from a 31-28 deficit at halftime, moving ahead, 64-63, with 46.5 seconds remaining after guard Alijah Martin made the game-tying and go-ahead free throws. Florida had only previously held a lead for 17 total seconds in the game prior to Martin's made free throws.
Denzel Aberdeen made his second of two free throw attempts to give the Gators a three-point lead with 19.7 remaining. Guard Will Richard recorded a team-best 18 points and eight rebounds. Forward Alex Condon recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while guard Walter Clayton Jr. finished with 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block.
Florida's men's basketball national championship is its first since winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, as well as its first under head coach Todd Golden, who joined the program in 2022 after three seasons at San Francisco. The Gators won the SEC Tournament before being rewarded with a No. 1 overall seed, having defeated Norfolk State, UConn, Maryland, Texas Tech and Auburn in the 2025 March Madness Tournament prior to Monday's win.