Florida wins the national championship in instant-classic men’s basketball title game

It’s the most fitting way to end our live coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Here is “One Shining Moment.”

Walter Clayton Jr. does the "Gator chomp" as Florida cuts down the nets.

The Florida Gators won the NCAA men’s basketball championship on Monday, defeating the Houston Cougars in a heart-stopping contest that went all the way down to the final play.

The Gators led for a grand total of 64 seconds in the game and trailed by as much as 12 with 16:24 to go in the second half. Houston’s vaunted defense held Florida and their star guard Walter Clayton Jr. in check for much of the game.

But, as they had so often in this tournament, the Gators came back. Slowly but surely throughout the second half, head coach Todd Golden and his team reeled in the Cougars. As the game got to crunchtime, Florida went on a 15-3 run to come all the way back and tie the game.

It wouldn’t be until the final minute that the Gators took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the contest. And, in a battle of Florida’s high-flying offense against Houston’s elite defense, it was the Gators making the key defensive plays in the final minutes to seal the championship.

With 19 seconds left, Houston leisurely took the ball up the court, with Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson content to hold the ball for the last shot of the game. Point guard Milos Uzan probed the perimeter but couldn’t find and opening and passed to LJ Cryer at the top of the key. With Florida guard Will Richard draped all over him, Cryer dished the ball off to Emanuel Sharp with just five seconds left on the clock. Sharp went up for a deep 3-point attempt, but with Clayton flying at him, he pulled the shot down and put the ball on the floor.

Sharp couldn’t touch the ball again without a double-dribble being called and the ball bounced three agonizing times with no one else able to make it to the loose ball and get a shot off.

Gators forward Alex Condon was the first to dive on the loose ball and the final horn sounded before either team could gain control, cementing Florida’s third-ever national championship, and first since 2007.

Florida players celebrate with the trophy after the game.

The Houston Cougars, behind their trademark defense and relentless offensive rebounding, led for nearly all of Monday night’s championship game. They built a 12-point second-half lead at one point and looked to be heading toward the program’s first-ever national title.

But these Florida Gators have shown time and time again that they are never out of it, and they still had one more comeback left in them.

Star guard Walter Clayton Jr. had zero points at halftime, but he scored 11 in the second half and came up with several clutch plays down the stretch. None was bigger than his defensive effort on Houston’s final possession.

Check out the best photos from Monday night’s thrilling game.

Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. contests Emanuel Sharp's would-be shot on the game's final possession.

Alex Condon dives for the ball to secure the Gators' victory.

Houston's Ja'Vier Francis throws down a vicious dunk in the first half.

Florida head coach Todd Golden could barely contain his excitement standing arm-in-arm with a trio of Gators seniors - Will Richard, Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. - as he spoke with CBS after his team’s incredible comeback victory in the national championship game.

“Like we’ve done all year, we made plays when we needed them the most,” Golden said. “We guarded our butts off down the stretch, made every 50/50 winning play.

“The Gators are natty, baby! We got the natty, baby, we got the natty! Let’s go!”

Golden screamed in joy as his players swarmed around him on the Alamodome court.

Will Richard explained what set this year’s Gators squad apart from previous incarnations, which had suffered some disappointing March Madness exits.

“Just how connected we are. We all love each other, we love playing for each other. And we love being a Gator!

“Gator boys stay hot!” he exclaimed, recycling a catch phrase coined by Joakim Noah during Florida’s back-to-back championship runs in 2006 and 2007.

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. was named the most outstanding player of the tournament after the game.

Clayton showed up when it mattered most for his team during the championship run, including scoring 30 or more points in both the Elite Eight win over Texas Tech and the Final Four showdown with Auburn. The only player to have done that before him – scoring 30 or more points in the Elite Eight and the Final Four – was Larry Bird for Indiana State in 1979.

Florida's Micah Handlogten lifts Walter Clayton Jr. as they celebrate the win.

Walter Clayton Jr.’s night was one to forget for much of the game.

But the Gators’ star guard won’t be remembered for his 3-10 shooting, 11 points or three turnovers in this one.

Instead, the contest he made on Emanuel Sharp – the Houston Cougar who had foiled him for the previous 39 minutes and 55 seconds – on the last play of the game will be what is seared in the minds of Gator fans.

When Sharp caught the ball at the top the key, Clayton was 15 feet or so away. He wasn’t even at the free-throw line. Before Sharp could shoot, Clayton closed down and got a hand in his face, forcing Sharp to drop the ball because he didn’t his shot to be blocked.

After a night of frustration, it was a moment – THE moment – of redemption for the Gator star.

Houston guard Emanuel Sharp drops the ball as his would-be shot was contested by Walter Clayton Jr. in the final seconds.

Trailing by just two points, Houston had a number of options on how to approach the game’s final 20 seconds.

Go for a quick two? Hold the ball and look to drive to the basket late? Or go for a 3-pointer and the win?

As Houston leisurely brought the ball up the court, it appeared that Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson was content to hold the ball for the last shot of the game.

Point guard Milos Uzan probed the perimeter, but couldn’t find and opening and passed to LJ Cryer at the top of the key.

With Gators guard Will Richard draped all over him, Cryer dished the ball off to Emanuel Sharp with just five seconds left on the clock.

Sharp went up for a deep 3-point attempt, but with Walter Clayton Jr. flying at him, he pulled the shot down and put the ball on the floor.

With Sharp unable to touch the ball again without a double-dribble being called, the ball bounced three agonizing times with no one else able to make it to the loose ball and get a shot off.

Gators forward Alex Condon was the first to dive on the loose ball and the final horn sounded before either team could gain control, cementing the Florida’s third-ever national championship, and first since 2007.

Final score: Florida 65, Houston 63

Florida's Alex Condon celebrates after the final horn.

The Houston Cougars couldn’t get a shot off as the final seconds ticked off the clock and the Florida Gators are once again champions!

Final score: Florida 65, Houston 63

After Florida had an adventure getting the ball across halfcourt, Denzel Aberbeen hit one of two free throws to give the Gators a skinny 2-point lead with less than 20 seconds left on the clock.

Did Houston use up all its late game magic on Saturday? There’s not long left to find out.

Score: Florida 65, Houston 63

Florida’s Will RIchard got a hand on the ball as Emanuel Sharp drove to the basket, and Sharp dribbled the ball off his leg. Florida has the ball back with a chance to extend its lead.

The officials are reviewing the call now.

Score: Florida 64, Houston 63

Alijah Martin stepped to the line and hit a pair of free throws to give Florida its first lead since early in the game. Houston’s Joseph Tugler fouled out on the play.

The Gators have come all the way back! There’s 46.5 seconds to go!

Score: Florida 64, Houston 63

The Gators led for 17 seconds early in the game, but since then only the Cougars have held a lead.

The Gators have tied the game several times, but can’t quite find that breakthrough basket to take the lead.

There’s a big call coming up here – the Cougars couldn’t get a shot to drop and Joseph Tugler for Houston grabbed a rebound. The ball flew out of bounds and the referees are determining if it will be Florida or Houston ball.

There’s just 1:21 to go.

Score: Houston 63, Florida 62

Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. shoots the ball over Houston guard Terrance Arceneaux.

After being silent most of the game, Florida’s star Walter Clayton Jr. is showing his mettle in the final minutes.

A pair of and-one plays and now a 3-pointer have Florida right in the thick of it. We’re at 2:18 to go.

It’s the 11th tie of the game. What a battle!

Score: Houston 62, Florida 62

Houston's Mylik Wilson drives the ball against Thomas Haugh.

With Florida having found their rhythm and battled back from a dozen points down, the final four minutes of this championship game are going to be a movie.

All the jitters seem to be gone now, and both teams are playing on sheer instinct.

Houston is fighting tooth and nail to keep Florida at bay, but the Gators are “chomping” at the bit, trailing by just a bucket.

A big dunk by Ja’vier Francis puts the Cougars up by three!

The Cougars get a stop but can’t capitalize after LJ Cryer stepped out of bounds on the ensuing possession. There’s 3:24 left in this one.

Score: Houston 60, Florida 57

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson during during the first half.

This is Kelvin Sampson’s 51st March Madness game. He’s earned trips to college basketball’s most prestigious tournament as a fantastic head coach.

But Houston’s head man will admit that some of that success may come from the unproven and unseen traditions he keeps.

You see, Sampson is a bit superstitious. So, he is wearing his lucky polo shirt tonight while roaming the Cougars sideline.

The mojo is working so far.

He told CNN’s Coy Wire on Sunday that he and the team are 31-1 when he wears the nearly forgettable top.

“I’m wearing out of that gray (polo). My wife’s washed the shirt so many times – its collar just droops now. I don’t look very good anyway, so I wear a droopy shirt really well,” he told Wire with a smile.

Droopy is winning for now but Todd Golden and the Gators will have something to do with this outcome.

Score: Houston 50, Florida 48

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. celebrates after scoring in the second half.

Florida has clawed their way back into the game as fouls pile up for Houston.

Just as they have numerous times in this tournament, the Gators are battling back in an attempt to overcome a second half deficit.

After trailing by as many as 12 points, the Gators have battled all the way back to tie the game up after an and-one play from Walter Clayton Jr, his first field goal of the game.

Score: Houston 48, Florida 48

Some warning signs blinking for the Houston Cougars here.

Joseph Tugler, the team’s starting forward who is tasked with holding down the middle of the defense, has four fouls. Ja’Vie Francis also just picked up his fourth foul.

In college, players foul out of the game after committing five fouls. If either of the forwards have to exit this game, it’s going to be a massive blow to the Cougars’ interior defense.

Houston now has to go small with the duo on the bench.

Score: Houston 48, Florida 47

Florida's Thomas Haugh makes a finger roll layup after blocking a shot on the other end of the floor.

With their senior leader Walter Clayton Jr. on the bench, Florida has suddenly cut into Houston’s once-large lead.

A flurry of Cougars fouls and some timely shooting have fueled a 8-0 Florida run in a little more than a minute.

After a Houston timeout, Florida’s Thomas Haugh stepped to the charity stripe with a chance to cut the Cougars lead to just 3 points. He hit it, and the lead shrinks further.

Suddenly, all the momentum is in favor of the Gators.

Score: Houston 45, Florida 42

Famed Houston heroes Carl Lewis and Hakeem Olajuwon are here and lovin’ this lead.

The local jumbotron operator knows how to fire up their neighbors to the East, showing the Olympic track star and NBA Hall of Famer up on the big screen.

Olajuwon looks just like the rest of us – holding up his phone and capturing the moment as the crowd rains down applause.

Both are likely really pleased how the game is going so far.

Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. isn’t enjoying this contest - still hasn’t scored a field goal.

Score: Houston 45, Florida 39

After going scoreless for the first 25 minutes of the game, the Gators’ top scorer got his first point of the game from the free throw line.

Walter Clayton Jr. hit the second shot as well, and Gator fans will be hoping that this will be the catalyst for their star.

Score: Houston 42, Florida 34