Houston loses 65-63 to Florida in the National Championship Game

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POSTED: April 8, 2025 -- 10:30 a.m. CT

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Alamodome

The Houston Cougars lost 65-63 to the Florida Gators Monday night in the championship game of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Houston (35-5) led Florida for 30 minutes and enjoyed its biggest lead (42-30) with 16:2 remaining in the second half. However, Florida did what it did throughout the season and the Tournament: erase double-digit deficits.

Houston struggled to make shots. The Coogs missed 22 of 32 field goal attempts in the second half.

Houston's scoring guard tandem of LJ Cryer (6 for 18), Emanuel Sharp (3 for 11), and Milos Uzan (2 for 9) combined to make 11 of 38 field goal attempts in the game.

Florida's All-America guard, Walter Clayton Jr, tied Houston at 48 and at 51.

Mylik Wilson, Houston reserve guard, scored a turnaround jumper for a 53-51 lead. Florida's Denzel Aberdeen scored a driving layup to tie the game at 53.

Emanuel Sharp hit a pull up 3-point jumper for a 56-53 Houston lead with 5:50 on the game clock. After Florida big man Alex Condon scored a layup, Sharp scored a driving layup for a 58-55 Houston lead with 5:14 left on the game clock.

Florida's Will Richard sank 2 foul shots before Houston big man Ja'Vier had an emphatic put back dunk for a 60-57 lead.

Then, uncharacteristically, Houston committed 5 turnovers in the last 3 minutes and 24 seconds which allowed Florida to tie the game at 60 and eventually lead 65-63 with 19 seconds left in the ball game.

Houston called timeout to set up a play. The ball eventually would up in Emanuel Sharp's hands. Sharp was being guarded tightly; and, when he jumped to attempt a game-winning 3, Sharp hesitated to shoot the ball and decided to pump fake instead. When he pump faked, Sharp let go of the ball. He could not pick up the ball because it would have a double-digit turnover.

The ball bounced on the floor as the clock ticked down which secured Florida's come-from-behind victory.

"Yeah, I told our guys after the game to be disappointed you lost, but do not be disappointed in your effort," Coach Sampson said after the game. "Defending Florida is difficult. They got a really, really good team. Coach Golden runs great schemes over there.

"We guarded 'em. We held that team to 65 points. Thought if we held Duke to under 70, we'd have a good chance to win. I felt like if we held Florida under 70, we'd have a good chance to win.

"Saturday we found a way to win. Tonight maybe not so much.

"Two great teams. Two tough teams. We lost by two points. They made one more play than we did tonight."

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