Heartbreak Again for Houston as Florida Rallies to Win National Title

SAN ANTONIO, TX — The University of Houston men’s basketball team again came up just short at the buzzer in the national final.

The Cougars had a chance to win their elusive first title Monday, but Florida erased a 12-point deficit in the second half, then held strong defensively on the game’s final sequence for a 65-63 win.

Houston’s Emanuel Sharp was going to attempt a 3-pointer in the final seconds, but as he jumped to shoot it, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. ran out to contest the shot, and Sharp had to let the ball fall to the court.

The Cougars ultimately never got off a shot, and Florida began celebrating its third national championship, joining the back-to-back titles in 2006 and ‘07.

For Houston, the Cougars were once again left empty handed on the big stage. It was their seventh trip to the Final Four, and no school has been there more times and failed to win it all.

Houston famously lost at the buzzer in the 1983 national final when North Carolina State’s Lorenzo Charles dunked home a missed shot by Dereck Whittenburg.

On Monday, not far from home at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Houston had another chance at the title following its incredible comeback from 14 points down against Duke on Saturday.

The Cougars led nearly the entire game against Florida, including a 42-30 advantage with 16 minutes remaining.

The Gators rallied to tie the game at 48-48 with about eight minutes to play, and it was a classic back-and-forth battle from there.

L.J. Cryer had 19 points to lead Houston, which finished its season with a record of 35-5.

Will Richard had a team-high 18 points for Florida, which had a 36-4 record.