Five key moments from Florida Basketball's epic comeback against Texas Tech

Florida won 84-79 after being down by ten points with 5:30 to play
Mar 29, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; The Florida Gators pose for a photo after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the West Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Mar 29, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; The Florida Gators pose for a photo after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the West Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

With 5:30 to go in the Elite Eight, it did not look like Florida Basketball was going to get a ticket to the Final Four. The Gators were down by ten and nothing seemed to be going right.

Then Walter Clayton Jr. and Thomas Haugh went nuts and the Gators staged a comeback for the ages to win 84-79 to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2014.

These are the five biggest moments from the comeback.

Florida Basketball: Walter Clayton Jr. sparks the run at 5:23

Let's just say the rims in San Francisco were extremely forgiving at times and Clayton took full advantage with a corner three to start the comeback.

His shot hit the front of the rim, bounced up off the backboard, and bounced two more times before going in.

Thomas Haugh block at 4:59

Before his three-pointers, Haugh was left one-on-one in the post with Darrion Williams. Haugh stayed to the outside shoulder, almost daring Williams to spin inside.

Williams did, and Haugh responded with a key block to keep the deficit at seven.

Derrion Williams misses the front end of one-and-one at 2:43

Perhaps the biggest subplot from this game was free throw shooting. Florida couldn't miss all night from the line.

Meanwhile Texas Tech is going to look back and probably muse they lost this game at the line. Still holding on to a six-point lead, the Williams went to the line for a one-and-one.

The 84% free throw shooter missed, and the lead stayed at six.

Thomas Haugh hits another three at 2:26

Clayton is getting all the headlines from this game, but Florida doesn't win if not for Haugh.

Following the missed free throw, Haugh drilled a three with the hand of Williams in his face to cut the led to three.

Walter Clayton Jr. turns into Steph Curry at 1:02

Florida had tied it before Texas Tech went down and took a two-point lead. That's when Clayton hit a shot that will forever live in Gator lore.

Clayton caught a pass in the lane, thought about going up for a shot, opted to dribble out to the top of the arc, and, without hesitation, launched a shot that would get 99% of players benched.

But Clayton isn't most players, and his three-pointer gave Florida a lead it never gave back.

You can see the comeback in its entirety here:

Schedule

Schedule