Gators Make Dramatic Comeback in Final Minutes, Defeat Texas Tech 84-79 to Reach Final Four

No. 1 Florida advanced to the Final Four with an 84-79 victory over No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the West Region championship game.

The Gators seemed on the verge of being eliminated late in their Elite Eight game, but they pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks in their program's history.

Completing an 18-4 run in the final three minutes, Florida won their 10th consecutive game.

This victory marked Florida's first Final Four appearance since 2014.

Sophomore Thomas Haugh played a major role in the comeback, contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds.

He sparked the rally with back-to-back 3-pointers, cutting Texas Tech's lead from 75-66 to 75-72.

Haugh made 4 of 6 attempts from beyond the arc, a strong performance in a game where the senior trio of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard struggled with their shooting.

Clayton, however, stepped up when it mattered most.

He hit a 3-pointer with 1:47 remaining to tie the game and stunned Texas Tech.

Texas Tech briefly regained the lead on a basket by Darrion Williams with 1:23 left.

But Clayton and the Gators refused to back down.

Clayton made another 3-pointer, putting Florida ahead 78-77 with 59 seconds left.

Martin then hit two free throws, followed by two more from Clayton, extending Florida's lead to 82-77.

That sealed the win for the Gators.

Clayton finished with 30 points, leading the team in scoring.

He shot 7-for-14 from the field, 3-for-8 from beyond the arc, and 13-for-14 from the free-throw line.

Interestingly, Clayton did not score until there were 8:47 left in the first half.

The comeback kept Florida's season alive and led to a celebration at midcourt, with the Gators securing their 15th win in their last 16 games.

Florida's win advanced them to the Final Four for the sixth time in program history, marking their first appearance in 11 years.

Previous teams that made the Final Four include those from 1994, 2000, 2006 (national champions), 2007 (national champions), and 2014.

While Clayton was a key figure in the victory, Haugh's contributions were crucial.

He had a team-high 12 points at halftime, helping Florida take a 40-37 lead into the break.

His two big 3-pointers late in the game sparked the comeback.

The Gators struggled from beyond the arc for most of the game, making just 5 of 20 attempts.

However, they finished strong, hitting their final four 3-pointers to end up 9-for-24 from three.

Next, Florida (34-4) will face the winner of the Auburn vs. Michigan State matchup in the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.

That game is scheduled for Sunday at 5:05 p.m. ET in Atlanta.