Houston Falls 65-63 to Florida in NCAA Championship

The Houston Cougars fell short in their quest for a national championship, losing 65-63 to the Florida Gators in a dramatic final at the Alamodome. Despite leading for most of the game and holding a 12-point advantage in the second half, Houston's hopes were dashed by critical turnovers from junior guard Emanuel Sharp in the closing moments. In the final possessions, Sharp failed to get a shot off, resulting in turnovers that allowed Florida to secure the victory. Coach Kelvin Sampson expressed disbelief at the inability to register a shot during those crucial seconds. The loss marks a painful end to a record-setting season for the Cougars, who had previously achieved both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles. Sharp's earlier heroics against Duke were overshadowed by his late-game mistakes, which have left a lasting impact on the team and its fans.