Florida finishes March Madness run with national championship after rallying past Houston

SANANTONIO— WalterClaytonJr.scoredall11ofhispointsinthesecondhalfandFloridapulledouta65-63winagainstHouston’sferociousdefensewithasecond-halfrallytoclaimthethirdnationalchampionshipinprogramhistory. TheGatorswereledbyguardAlijahMartin’s18points.FreshmanforwardAlexCondonhad12pointsand7rebounds.Claytonadded7assists,5rebounds,ablockandastealbutshot3-10fromthefieldand1of7from3-pointrange. HoustonguardL.J.Cryerhadagame-high19points.SeniorforwardJ’wanRobertshad8pointsand8reboundsbutwent1of6inthesecondhalf.GuardEmanuelSharphad8pointsandshot3of11withapairofcostlyturnovers. ThisisFlorida’sfirsttitlesincegoingback-to-backin2006and2007underHallofFamecoachBillDonovan.TheGatorswonacombined39gamesincoachToddGolden’sfirsttwoyearsbutfinished36-4thisseason,tyingthe2014teamforthemostwinsinprogramhistory. Golden,39,istheyoungestcoachtowinanationaltitlesinceJimValvanoofNorthCarolinaStatein1983.Valvanowas37. &