San Francisco-Walter Clayton Jr. saved Florida with top-on-stands, and Gators rally from 9 factors late to succeed in the Closing 4, with an 84-79 victory on Texas Tech Tech within the Western Area last of the NCAA event on Saturday.
Gators (34-Four) observed 75-66 lower than three minutes to play earlier than staging a livid rally rally rally (28-9), which had achieved the identical in Candy 16 in opposition to Arkansas.
Clayton got here out of the paint and hit a Fadeaway three, with 59 seconds left to provide Florida 78-77, and Gators held from there to advance of their first 2014 last within the third season of Todd Golden coach. Florida will face the champion within the South – Auburn, or Michigan State area – subsequent Saturday in San Antonio.
The return supplied a contented ending at Golden’s return to the Bay space, the place he performed in school at Saint Mary’s and began as a head coach at San Francisco.
As the ultimate horn sounded, Golden turned to Gators followers and clearly pumps his fist, whereas his gamers rushed to the sector to have a good time a victory that appeared unlikely to some minutes earlier.
Clayton, who began his school profession in Iona, scored 30 factors to guide the gators. Thomas Haugh added 20 factors and 11 restoration from the bench.
Haugh began to return again with two three factors. Clayton then tied it to his lengthy distance shot after Texas Tech missed a second proper finish of 1 and one.
After Darrius Williams scored down for Texas Tech, Clayton’s final three put Florida earlier than he stayed, and Gators sealed him on the Unshon line.
Williams missed two 3s late. He sank the late -to -regulatory and winner of the sport within the seconds of closing the extension in opposition to Arkansas on Thursday night time.
Texas Tech dropped to solely his second Closing 4 journey, after being on the improper aspect of a return with a late sport. Purple Raiders have been rallied from 13 factors within the final 5 minutes to defeat Raorbacks in Candy 16.
Williams scored 23 factors to drive Texas Tech and JT Toppin added 20.
The sport was most collected, with not one of the groups able to constructing a advance greater than six factors for the primary 30 minutes, whereas Texas Tech used the turnover and second likelihood, and Florida has repeatedly reached the untrue line. Clayton struck twice on the third in the beginning of the second half, which led to 5 factors on the six disagreeable blows.
Purple Raiders went 12-2 to climb 10 however could not maintain late.
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