Kelvin Sampson stood quietly behind a black curtain at the Alamodome. Midnight neared as TV lights lit up his expression.
Sampson, 69, wore a grey polo with an NCAA Final pin beside the University of Houston logo. He had just watched his team let slip a 12-point second-half lead. Houston lost the national title game 65-63 to Florida.
“There’s a lot of teams that are not built for six straight wins,” Sampson said. “This team was. This team was built, this team had the character and the toughness and the leadership. This team was built to win this tournament, and that’s why it’s so disappointing. We got here and had a chance and just didn’t get it done.”
“hey coach, we got it” 🥹 pic.twitter.com/JyZacNOCdP
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) April 8, 2025
From Triumph to Heartbreak in 48 Hours
Houston had stunned Duke with a late comeback two nights earlier. On Monday night, the Cougars saw their dream fade in under a minute.
The Cougars trailed for only 63 seconds the entire game. Florida took its first second-half lead with just 46 seconds left.
Sampson called it “incomprehensible” that Houston failed to take a shot on their final two possessions. Star guard Emanuel Sharp committed back-to-back turnovers to close the game.
Sharp’s Final Seconds Unravel Quickly
Sharp tried to drive inside with 30 seconds remaining. Florida’s Will Richard, helping on defence, disrupted the play. The ball went out off Sharp with 26 seconds left.
Florida’s Denzel Aberdeen hit one of two free throws. Houston now trailed by two with 19 seconds remaining.
Florida defended tightly. Sharp caught the ball more than six feet behind the arc with five seconds left. He jumped for a 28-footer, but Walter Clayton Jr. closed the gap.
Clayton extended his left hand midair, freezing Sharp. Sharp dropped the ball. Florida’s Alex Condon seized his fourth steal of the night.
Sharp sank near the spot of his turnover. He buried his face in his fists.
GATORS DEFENSE CAME UP CLUTCH TO SECURE THE NATTY 🔒 pic.twitter.com/0a3DxuZqRk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 8, 2025
“I told him I loved him,” Sampson said. “I told him I loved him, and I really focused on the job he did on Clayton. He did an awesome job on him. He made a couple reads that I’m sure he wish he’d had over, but we don’t get there without that kid.”
Defensive Effort Falls Short
Sharp defended Clayton for most of the game. Clayton scored 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting. He needed over 32 minutes to make his first basket.
Sampson had hoped Sharp would have pump-faked and driven into the lane. Instead, Clayton’s closeout proved decisive.
Turnovers Seal Houston’s Fate
The Cougars had two other turnovers to close the game. Joseph Tugler lost control after an offensive rebound. L.J. Cryer drove baseline and gave the ball straight to Condon.
“It was definitely there for the taking,” Cryer said.
Emotional Locker Room After Collapse
As reporters entered the locker room, Milos Uzan led Sharp away. Sharp had a towel over his head. He sobbed as Uzan tried to comfort him.
“That’s me, bro,” Sharp said. He then shouted an expletive.
A flushing toilet echoed through the quiet locker room. Tugler summed it up in one line: “That broke everybody’s heart.”
This is what sports are all about 💯
Even after becoming a National Champion, Walter Clayton still took time to console Emanuel Sharp 💙#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/jOpiEb0fgK
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 8, 2025
Missed Opportunity for Milestone Win
A victory would have given Sampson his 800th career win and his first national title. It also might have ensured a Hall of Fame induction.
Instead, Sampson walked quickly through the handshake line in disbelief. His daughter Lauren met him in the tunnel.
“I’m OK,” he told her.
Assistant Coaches Reflect on Narrow Margin
Houston’s assistants sat quietly, absorbing the loss. Kellen Sampson, Kelvin’s son and assistant, said the difference was minuscule.
“It’s a brutal, cruel guillotine,” Kellen said. “And when you get here, every team is so good and you don’t get here without a team that’s connected, resilient, tough. The margins are so razor-thin. We certainly did enough tonight to win. Florida did, as well, and they won.”
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Florida Mounts Historic Comeback
Florida’s comeback marked the third-largest in NCAA title game history. The Gators outscored Houston by 14 in the final 10 minutes.
Clayton’s final contest may rival Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick’s famous block in 2003.
Final Whistle Ends Houston’s Dream Run
Houston entered the final with high hopes. The Cougars had shown toughness throughout the tournament. They won close games and overcame deficits.
On Monday night, the script flipped. Houston failed to score in the final possessions. Florida executed when it mattered.
The Cougars left San Antonio empty-handed. Their effort took them to the edge. Execution let them down.
The tournament offered six tests. Houston passed five. The sixth proved too much.
