The #1 Florida Gators are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017.
Todd Golden's team took down the reigning back-to-back national champion #8 UConn Huskies, 77-75.
In a game that was plagued by turnovers and missed free throws, the Gators got it done when it mattered most.
Golden said, “We made winning play after winning play in the last 6 minutes.”
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Florida guard Will Richard (5) celebrates after a dunk as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) goes up for a layup as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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A ball is shown pregame as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) takes the ball upcourt as Connecticut guard Hassan Diarra (10) follows as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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The court is shown pregame as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) dunks as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida forward Sam Alexis (4) extends out his hand for a young fan as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida center Micah Handlogten (3) celebrates with his teammates on the bench as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) goes up for a layup as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida Head Coach Todd Golden celebrates with the team as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida Head Coach Todd Golden eyes the scoreboard as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) goes up for a shot over Connecticut forward Alex Karaban (11)as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Will Richard (5) floats the ball through the air as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida forward/center Alex Condon (21) dribbles as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) dribbles upcourt as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) goes up for a layup against Connecticut forward Alex Karaban (11) as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) takes the ball upcourt as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Will Richard (5) looks for an open man as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) guards Connecticut guard Hassan Diarra (10) as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) drives to the basket as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Urban Klavzar (7) buries his head in his hands as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida forward/center Alex Condon (21) dunks as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) dunks as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida Head Coach Todd Golden calls out as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) celebrates as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Actor Bill Murray watches as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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A Gators band member holds up a sign as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Will Richard (5) shoots a three-pointer as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) dunks as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) flies through the air as the Florida Gators face the Connecticut Huskies on Friday, March 23, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Matthew Lewis/WRUF)
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It was a tale of two halves.
Florida guard Alijah Martin owned the first 20 minutes, scoring 14 points to start, as the rest of his teammates tried to find their rhythm.
A few electrifying dunks and threes from Martin got the Gators offense going early, and kept the crowd in the game.
Despite a cold offensive start by the Huskies, they managed to keep it close with their defense, forcing an uncharacteristic nine Florida first-half turnovers.
Gators point guard Walter Clayton Jr. also had a slow start. But when he got going, he was able to drop in a couple of much needed threes.
After that sloppy first half, Golden said halftime was all about adjustments. “We were doing some uncharacteristic things that we simply haven’t done, you know, for a long time. We were loose with the ball in the first half, we didn’t rebound great. And those are kind of the hallmarks of our program that makes us consistent and raises our floor.”
UConn came into this game as the reigning two time national champions - and to start the second half, they looked the part. They brought the pressure and straight-up outplayed Florida.
Second chance points and physicality on the boards made this game look like it was over.
But with under two minutes to go and all the pressure starting to suffocate the Gators, Clayton took over.
The all-american took the entire arena over.
Clayton hit back to back threes to establish the first Florida lead since the first half.
The gators never looked back.
After their 77-75 nail-biter, Clayton acknowledged his slow start and gave the credit to his teammates.
“I wouldn’t say, I know they were kind of denying me a little bit, but I’ve seen that before. It was more of just kind of a me thing, but I think we’ve seen some things and my teammates did a great job throughout the game, you know, kind of picking up where I was slacking off.”
UConn head coach Dan Hurley was visibly emotional after his program’s 13 game win streak in the NCAA tournament was snapped.
The Gators now head to the city by the Bay - San Francisco - for the Sweet-16. They will play on Thursday for a spot in the Elite Eight.
