Florida Gators Defeat UConn 77-75 in NCAA Thriller

The Florida Gators, ranked as the No. 1 seed, secured a dramatic 77-75 victory over the defending champions, the No. 8 seed Connecticut Huskies, in the NCAA tournament's second round. Florida's win, spearheaded by Walter Clayton Jr.'s crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes, halted UConn's pursuit of a third consecutive national championship and ended their 13-game tournament win streak. The Huskies, despite a strong defensive showing and leading for most of the second half, struggled with shooting consistency, making only 37.5% of their field goals. UConn's loss marks the end of their impressive run, which included back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. Florida, now advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017, will face either Colorado State or Maryland next. The Gators' resilience and Clayton Jr.'s performance, contributing 23 points, were pivotal in overcoming UConn's challenge.