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Florida rallies to beat UConn, make Sweet 16 for first time since 2017
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Florida is going to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017. The No. 1 seed Gators had all they could handle with 8-seed UConn. UF trailed most of the 2nd half, but rallied late to notch a 77-75 second-round win, ending the Huskies’ bid for a 3-peat.
From early on, it was evident that Sunday’s game would not come easy for Florida. The Gators came into the game averaging 85.7 points per game, making them the No. 3 offense in the nation. The UConn defense got to the Gators early on, as it was a 31-31 game at halftime in Raleigh.
The Huskies led a tight game for much of the 2nd half. Florida did not take a 2nd-half lead until it went up 62-61 with just under 3 minutes to go.
Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard led the way for the Gators.
While many Florida players struggled in the 1st half, Martin notched 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He finished with 18 for the game. All 4 of Martin’s 2nd-half points came in the final seconds on a dunk and a pair of free throws.
Clayton and Richard led the 2nd-half effort. Clayton had 15 points in the 2nd half, including 3 3-pointers. Richard had 13 2nd-half points, including a pair of triples. His biggest shot came with just over 1 minute on the clock to put the Gators up by 6.
WALTER CLAYTON. NAILS.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
FLORIDA LEADS BY 6 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/2lUklfF6jV
UConn had opportunities for the big upset. The Gators committed 12 turnovers to UConn’s 6. The Huskies, though, could only those turnovers into 4 points. Florida managed 10 points off turnovers.
Florida managed just 50 field-goal attempts to UConn’s 64. The Gators made 23 from the floor, while the Huskies made 24. UConn finished 8-of-29 from 3-point territory. UF made more 3-pointers (9) despite 10 fewer attempts (19).
UConn’s exit ends its bid for a 3-peat as NCAA national championships. The Gators will head to San Francisco for the Sweet 16 for the 12th in Florida basketball history (including the 1987 appearance later vacated by the NCAA). UF head coach Todd Golden coached at the University of San Francisco from 2016-22, including a 3-season tenure as head coach. Florida will face the winner of 4-seed Maryland vs. 12-seed Colorado State (7:10 p.m. ET).
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
