SAN ANTONIO — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 factors and Florida beat Southeastern Convention rival Auburn 79-73 within the Ultimate 4 on Saturday evening, 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 large 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 file 14 SEC groups made this NCAA Match, seven bought to the Candy 16 earlier than the league made up half the Elite Eight after which this Ultimate 4 full of No. 1 seeds.
The Gators can have the possibility Monday evening to win the SEC’s first title since Kentucky in 2012, the one one since they gained in back-to-back seasons. Florida takes an 11-game successful streak into the title championship sport within the Alamodome in opposition to both Duke or Houston.
“We’re simply all collectively, on the courtroom and off the courtroom,” Clayton mentioned.
Even on the finish of the primary SEC matchup in a Ultimate 4, Clayton chased a unfastened rebound and tipped it again inbounds to maintain the clock working out on the win. When he began to stroll again on the courtroom, teammate Alijah Martin was standing watching him on the finish line nodding with a smile to greet him.
The Tigers (32-6), of their second Ultimate 4 with coach Bruce Pearl, have been the highest total seed and had an eight-point halftime lead.
“Auburn had us on our heels within the first half however we got here out with an awesome begin and we didn’t look again,” mentioned 39-year-old Florida coach Todd Golden, who joined Pearl’s first employees at Auburn in 2014.
Clayton grew to become the primary participant with consecutive 30-point video games within the Elite Eight and semifinals since Larry Hen for Indiana State in 1979, in accordance with ESPN Stats. Clayton bought over 30 along with his three-point play with 1:33 left, scoring on a layup whereas being fouled and including the free throw.
Martin, who performed within the Ultimate 4 with FAU two years in the past, added 17 factors for the Gators. Thomas Haugh had 12.
Florida opened the second half with a 13-3 run, with Clayton capping an 11-0 run with a layup after Rueben Chinyelu’s steal. That put the Gators up 51-49 with 15 1/2 minutes left.
Chad Baker-Mazara, along with his left hand partially wrapped due to a thumb problem, led Auburn with 18 factors, together with 4 3-pointers. Broome completed with 15 factors on 6-of-14 taking pictures and had seven rebounds – he had solely three factors after halftime.
Even earlier than the ultimate buzzer sounded, Broome was hunched over after which was surrounded by cameras to seize his response. He ultimately stood as much as shake palms, then walked off the courtroom along with his eyes crimson from crying – pulling up his jersey to wipe his face as cameras continued to comply with his exit.
Broome and Baker-Mazara each have been injured within the win over Michigan State final Sunday that despatched the Tigers to the Ultimate 4. Broome’s proper elbow bent awkwardly throughout a tough fall within the second half, and within the Ultimate 4 he wore some form of brace on his arm coated by a sleeve.
