SAN FRANCISCO — Walter Clayton Jr. rescued top-seeded Florida with two late 3-pointers, and the Gators rallied from 9 factors down late to achieve the Ultimate 4 with an 84-79 victory over Texas Tech within the NCAA Event’s West Area remaining on Saturday.
The Gators (34-4) trailed 75-66 with lower than three minutes to play earlier than staging a livid rally in opposition to the third-seeded Crimson Raiders (28-9), who had carried out the identical within the Candy 16 in opposition to Arkansas.
Clayton dribbled out of the paint and hit a fadeaway 3 with 59 seconds left to present Florida a 78-77 lead, and the Gators held on from there to advance to their first Ultimate 4 since 2014 in coach Todd Golden’s third season.
Florida will face the South Area champion — both Auburn or Michigan State — subsequent Saturday in San Antonio.
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The comeback offered a contented ending to Golden’s return to the Bay Space, the place he performed in faculty at Saint Mary’s and received his begin as a head coach at San Francisco.
As the ultimate horn sounded, Golden turned to the Gators followers and demonstrably pumped his fist as his gamers rushed out to the court docket to rejoice a victory that seemed unbelievable only a few minutes earlier.
Clayton, who started his faculty profession at Iona, scored 30 factors to guide the Gators. Thomas Haugh added 20 factors and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Haugh began the comeback with two 3-pointers.
Clayton then tied it along with his shot from lengthy vary after Texas Tech missed a second straight entrance finish of a one-and-one.
After Darrius Williams scored down low for Texas Tech, Clayton’s final 3 put Florida forward to remain, and the Gators sealed it on the foul line.
Williams missed two 3s late.
He had sank the game-tying basket late in regulation and game-winner within the closing seconds of additional time in opposition to Arkansas on Thursday night time.
Texas Tech fell simply wanting its second Ultimate 4 journey ever after being on the improper facet of a late-game comeback.
The Crimson Raiders rallied from 13 factors within the remaining 5 minutes to beat the Razorbacks within the Candy 16.
Williams scored 23 factors to guide Texas Tech and JT Toppin added 20.
The sport was tight many of the manner with neither group in a position to construct a lead larger than six factors for the primary half-hour as Texas Tech capitalized on turnovers and second-chance factors and Florida repeatedly received to the foul line.
Clayton received fouled twice on 3-pointers early within the second half, main to 5 factors on the six foul pictures.
The Crimson Raiders went on a 12-2 run to go up by 10 however couldn’t maintain on late.
