Image Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

March Madness Elite 8: Walter Clayton Jr. Guides Top-Seeded Florida To Final Four With Win Over Texas Tech

The Gators held the nerves in the crucial final minutes to clinch the Final Four ticket.

Image Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Top-seeded Florida overcame a ten-point deficit to beat the third-seeded Texas Tech 84-79 in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8 clash on Saturday. The Gators are heading back to final four with a thrilling win against a side, that made Sweet 16’s biggest comeback in history.

After the game, Florida Coach Todd Golden cut down the net, waved it to the crowd and performed the famed Gator Chomp. For the first time in over a decade, the Gators are bound for the Final Four. Florida (34-4) will face the South Region champion next Saturday in San Antonio.

"THE GATORS ARE GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR" 🗣️#MarchMadness @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/m2QYIw6hO7
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025

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Gators Erase a Double-Digit Deficit to Beat Texas in Elite 8

Florida held a 40-27 lead at halftime, but the second half was pretty competitive. Texas rallied back, and the game was tied five times. The Red Raiders sparked a 12-4 run in the midway of the second half to build a 10-point lead. The Gators staged a rally in the end with a 12-2 run to take a lead. The Gators held the nerves in the crucial final minutes to clinch the Final Four ticket.

Clayton’s fadeaway 3 with 59 seconds left gave Florida a decisive lead in the game. Alijah Martin and Clayton’s straight two free throws stretched the lead to five points with 10 seconds left in the game. The same Texas side snatched a victory from the jaws of the defeat against Arkansas in Sweet 16 but couldn’t replicate against Florida.

WALTER CLAYTON JR. ANSWERED THE CALL 📞

🔥 30 PTS | 4 AST | 3 3PT

He showed up BIG in the clutch to help @GatorsMBK advance to the #MFinalFour 🐊#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/kyBRb5JXwP
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025

“It goes to show how together we all are,” Clayton said. “Many times could easily just break, start pointing the finger, blaming each other for this and that. But we just stayed together through the end and stayed the course. And thankfully we got it done today.”

Clayton scored a game-high 30 points for the Gators. He dropped two out of three 3-pointers in the clutch time. Thomas Haugh chipped in 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, including two 3-pointers in a wild comeback. Williams led Texas Tech with 23 points and JT Toppin added 20.

It will be the sixth Final Four appearance for the Gators. Top-seeded Florida won back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007 under coach Billy Donovan. In another Elite 8 game, Duke advanced to their record 18th Final Four after an 85-65 win over Alabama. The winner of Auburn vs. Michigan State will face Florida in the Final Four.

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March Madness Elite 8

Walter Clayton

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.