Florida Ends UConn's Reign Over Men's College Basketball With Thrilling March Madness Win
Sarah Johnson
March 24, 2025
Brief
Florida Gators upset UConn Huskies 77-75 in a thrilling men’s basketball tournament game, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017.
The Florida Gators pulled off a nail-biter of a win on Sunday, dethroning the two-time defending champions, the UConn Huskies, in the second round of the men’s basketball tournament. The final score, 77-75, left fans on the edge of their seats.
Florida, seeded No. 1, didn’t even take the lead until the final minutes of the game. With 2:44 left on the clock, guard Walter Clayton Jr. sank a clutch 3-pointer that turned the tide. A subsequent Huskies turnover set up a breakaway dunk from Will Richard, igniting a 6-0 run that sealed the deal for the Gators.
To cap things off in style, Alijah Martin soared for a dunk off an offensive rebound, hammering down the exclamation point on Florida’s victory.
While the score was tied at 31 at halftime, thanks to UConn’s Hassan Diarra nailing a 3-pointer, the Huskies struggled to create a significant gap. Their biggest lead was a mere six points—a testament to Florida’s grit and determination to keep things tight.
Clayton was the star of the night, racking up 23 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Martin added 18 points, and Richard contributed 15. On the Huskies' side, Liam McNeely led the charge with 22 points, including a buzzer-beater that kept hope alive until the very end.
This victory marks Florida’s return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 under head coach Michael White. After losing in the first round last year and bowing out in the second round three consecutive times before that, the Gators now have momentum on their side. Next, they’ll face the winner of No. 12 Colorado State and No. 4 Maryland.
Florida’s journey to this point has been nothing short of stellar—they clinched the SEC Championship this season, earning themselves the No. 1 seed in the West Region. Talk about a comeback story!
As for UConn, the loss ends their bid for a third straight title. The Huskies had previously triumphed over San Diego State in 2023 and Purdue last year. But hey, even dynasties stumble eventually.
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Editor's Comments
Talk about drama! Florida’s ability to stay composed under pressure and flip the game in the final minutes is the kind of magic that makes March Madness so addictive. UConn fans must be feeling gutted, but hey—three titles in a row? That’s a tall order, even for a powerhouse like the Huskies.
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