Houston spirit squads at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
IMG_4746 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Houston basketball Closing 4 warmups (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Shasta at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Jim Nantz at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Cougar Brass band at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Houston followers at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Houston followers at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Cougars wait to take flooring at Closing 4 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Houston Closing 4 arrival (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Closing 4 2025 (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Closing 4 2025 Houston locker room (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Closing 4 2025 Houston locker room (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Closing 4 2025 Houston locker room (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Closing 4 2025 courtroom (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
Closing 4 2025 courtroom (Photograph Credit score: Mark Norris/Houston Public Media)
SAN ANTONIO — All eyes in Houston are on the nightcap of the Closing 4, with the Cougars taking over the Duke Blue Devils.
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 factors and Florida beat Southeastern Convention rival Auburn 79-73 within the Closing 4 on Saturday night time, sending the Gators to the nationwide championship sport for the primary time since their titles in 2006 and 2007.
The All-America guard for the Gators (35-4) had a driving layup with 2:24 left, on the possession proper after Australian huge man Alex Condon drew a cost in opposition to Johni Broome, the opposite All-America participant on this nationwide semifinal — and who was coping with an injured proper elbow.
After a report 14 SEC groups made this NCAA Event, seven received to the Candy 16 earlier than the league made up half the Elite Eight after which this Closing 4 crammed with No. 1 seeds.
The Gators could have the possibility Monday night time to win the SEC’s first title since Kentucky in 2012, the one one since they received in back-to-back seasons. Florida takes an 11-game profitable streak into the title championship sport within the Alamodome in opposition to both Duke or Houston.
RELATED: How Kelvin Sampson remodeled the College of Houston’s males’s basketball program
BY THE NUMBERS
Duke scores 83.7 factors, 25.4 extra per sport than the 58.3 Houston provides up. Houston averages 8.2 made 3-pointers per sport this season, 1.3 extra made photographs on common than the 6.9 per sport Duke provides up.
LJ Cryer is averaging 15.4 factors for the Cougars. Emanuel Sharp is averaging 14.7 factors over the past 10 video games.
IN THE LAST 10 GAMES
Blue Devils are 10-0, averaging 86.7 factors, 35.9 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per sport whereas taking pictures 50.6% from the sector. Their opponents have averaged 67.0 factors per sport.
Cougars are 10-0, averaging 71.6 factors, 33.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per sport whereas taking pictures 43.1% from the sector. Their opponents have averaged 59.6 factors.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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