SAN ANTONIO — Florida basketball’s MO the entire season and NCAA Tournament has been second half comebacks.
The Gators will need another one in the team’s biggest game of the season. UF trails Houston 31-28 at the half in the NCAA Championship in San Antonio.
Fortunately for Florida, it knows how to come back. It has a +32 second-half point margin, including outscoring Maryland in the Sweet 16 and Auburn in the Final Four by 14.
Here’s some examples:
Round of 32 vs. UConn
Technically the Gators didn’t trail in this game at the half. The score was tied at 31, and UF trailed for much of the second half. However, Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida on a furious comeback, and after some late free throw issues, UF held on to defeat the two-time defending national champions 77-75.
Elite Eight vs. Texas Tech
The Gators led at the half, but the Red Raiders stormed to a fast second-half start and led by nine with three minutes left.
However, clutch shot-making by Clayton and Thomas Haugh allowed the Orange and Blue to end the game on an 18-4 run and defeat TTU 84-79.
Final Four vs. Auburn
Their biggest halftime deficit of the NCAA tournament, Florida trailed Auburn 46-38 at halftime. Johni Broome dominated UF, which looked out of answers.
Yet, the Gators tied the game early in the second half and fended off the Tigers the rest of the way for a 79-73 win.
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball's second half success on the line in NCAA Championship
