Florida Gators defeat Houston Cougars in NCAA championship

Driving the news: The Florida Gators outscored Houston 65-63 in the March Madness finale in San Antonio.

Catch up quick: Houston blew through most of the competition in this year's tournament, topping SIU Edwardsville, Gonzaga, Purdue and Tennessee before facing the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four.

• Duke led for nearly the entire game, but Houston went on a 9-0 scoring run in the last 35 seconds to secure the victory.

The intrigue: Despite the championship loss, it's the furthest the team has gotten in March Madness since Phi Slama Jama greats like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler contended for back-to-back championships in the mid-1980s.

• The Coogs' recent success is thanks to veteran coach Kelvin Sampson, who took over the team in the 2014-15 season after years of losing seasons and zero March Madness wins since 1984.
• By his third season at the helm, the Coogs started a streak of March Madness victories and made trips to the Final Four in 2021 and 2025.