Florida trailed by nine points with 3 minutes and 14 seconds to go, but Walter Clayton Jr. and Thomas Haugh hit a series of miraculous 3-pointers to lead the Gators to an 84-79 win over the Texas Tech Raiders and advance to the Final Four.
The comeback began after a missed 3-pointer from Clayton when Haugh came up with an offensive rebound and drained a third long-range shot of the night. Haugh fouled Darrion Williams near half court, but the Rebels' big man missed the first of a one-and-one, giving the ball right back to Haugh for another big 3-pointer.
With the deficit down to three, another foul and missed free throw put the ball in the hands of the most lethal late-game shooter in the country, and Clayton didn't miss. In the span of 48 seconds, Clayton hit two big 3s to give Florida its first lead since the 13-minute mark in the second half. From there, it was all about hitting free throws and playing defense. Texas Tech scored just once more, a layup to cut a then five-point lead to three, and Florida went 6-6- from the charity stripe.
"They've done it all year, been incredibly resilient. They stayed the course, never too high or too low. We're down nine going into that last media (timeout). We just had to dig in and get some stops. Tommy and Walt made some big-time shots and got some stops down the stretch. It's what we've done all year. We find a way to win these games."
Florida heads to its first Final Four appearance since 2014 and that kind of comeback could spark something in a team that was already considered one of the hottest in the country.
Haugh Tua
It wasn't just the final minutes of the game that Haugh shined. He led the team in scoring in the first half with 12 points and led the game with eight defensive rebounds. Haugh was the only player on either team to finish the night with a positive double-digit plus-minus. He ended the night with a 20-and-11 double-double.
The hustle and grit Haugh displayed will go down in history as one of the most important individual performances in program history. Without Haugh, Florida has no chance to win this game, starting with the offensive rebound mentioned above. For a kid who grew up with a Tim Tebow poster on his wall and dreaming of playing for the Orange and Blue, there can't be a better feeling. Tebow should put a Haugh poster on his wall in honor of the comeback-driving performance.
"This team is special," Haugh said after the game, surrounded by his teammates. "This team is super special and I'm honored to be a part of it. And this (pointing to Clayton) is a cold man right here."
Clayton plays so well that you forget his first name is Walter
Everyone knows that Clayton is the leader of this Gators team, and most opposing teams have him as the primary focus of their defensive game plans. It may work for a while, but the All-American always adjusts. Clayton missed all three of his 3-point shots in the first half, but it was only a matter of time until he got hot. When his team needed him the most, Clayton delivered.
He ended the game with a team-high 30 points and shot 13-of-14 from the free-throw line, a key stat for anyone analyzing how Florida stayed in a game that could have turned into a blowout. Florida's primary ball handler also notched four assists while turning the ball over just once. He also added in two blocks to single-game box score he'll never forget.
"I've just got all these guys around me. We don't spread apart during adversity; we come together," Clayton said when asked how he's able to play so loose in clutch moments. "Shout out to the whole team. We did it together."
