By Jeysla Gonzalez
4 7 2025
HOUSTON GAME NOTES
https://uhcougars.com/documents/2025/4/7/40-2425Notes_NCAA6_Florida_04072025.pdf
BIG 12 GAME NOTES
https://uhcougars.com/documents/2025/4/7/mbkb_Big_12_Notes_04072025.pdf
Cougars return to title game for first time in more than four decades; Tip off at 7:50 p.m., Monday, inside Alamodome
Winners of its last 18 games and 31 of its last 32, the Cougars punched their ticket to the Title Game with a thrilling, come-from-behind win over #1/1 (1) Duke in the NCAA Final Four on Saturday night.
Trailing by 14 with less than nine minutes remaining and by seven with just 86 seconds left, Houston closed the game on an 11-1 run to upset the Blue Devils. Graduate guard LJ Cryer led the Cougars with 26 points and six 3-pointers while graduate forward J’Wan Roberts posted 11 points with game highs of 12 rebounds and five assists.
The Cougars held Duke to only one field goal over the final 10-and-a-half minutes and its second-lowest scoring output of the season.
Monday’s game will be Houston’s third appearance in the NCAA Title Game after falling in back-to-back years in 1984 and 1983 to Georgetown and NC State, respectively.
NCAA FINAL FOUR HUB
For a complete schedule of events and other information, Houston fans should visit our NCAA Final Four Hub by clicking here.
For a full list of NCAA Final Four fan events, fans can click here.
For a list of locations in San Antonio to purchase Official NCAA Four merchandise , fans can click here.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Monday’s game on CBSwith Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (reporter) and Gene Steratore (rules analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Monday’s game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling. The pregame show begins at 7:35 p.m., Monday.
• Fans also can hear Monday’s game on Westwood Oneand on Sirius XM Radio with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (analyst), PJ Carlesimo) analyst and Andy Katz (reporter) calling.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday’s game by clicking here.
ABOUT FLORIDA
• Florida brings a 35-4 overall record and 14-4 mark in SEC play into Monday’s NCAA Tournament National Championship game.
• The Gators finished second in the SEC regular-season standings and captured the league’s tournament championships
• Florida is ranked #3 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports Coaches polls, receiving two first-place votes in the AP poll and three first-place votes in the Coaches poll.
• Florida is 13-0 in neutral-site games and 20-3 in non-home games during the 2024-25 season.
• The Gators have won their last 11 games and 17 of their last 18 contests. Only an 88-83 loss at Georgia on Feb. 25, prevents a longer streak.
• In its most recent action, Florida took a 79-73 win over Auburn to advance to Monday’s National Championship game.
• Against Auburn, senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. totaled 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting with five 3-pointers and added four rebounds and a pair of assists. Graduate guard Alijah Martin finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting with three rebounds and a steal while sophomore forward Thomas Haugh came off the bench to post 12 points with seven rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu led the Gators with nine rebounds while sophomore forward Alex Condon posted a team-high three assists.
• This season, Clayton leads Florida with 18.5 points and 4.1 assists per game while Martin is second with 14.6 point per game. Will Richard stands third with 13.2 points per game, and Condon averages 10.5 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Head Coach: Todd Golden is in his third season at Florida and his sixth year as a collegiate head coach.
• Golden has built a 132-69 record in his career. That includes a 75-33 record at Florida and a 57-36 mark with San Francisco (2019-22).
• Monday’s game will be the first time that Golden has faced Houston during his career
• Monday’s game will be the first time that Golden has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 2008 graduate of Saint Mary’s [Calif.].
SERIES HISTORY vs. FLORIDA
• Houston holds a 2-0 lead against Florida in the series, which began during the 1970-71 season.
• In the most recent meeting, the 14th-ranked Cougars claimed a 97-73 win over Florida inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 8, 1973.
• In the first meeting against the Gators, the Cougars enjoyed an 81-76 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Dec. 7, 1970
at Neutral Site: Monday’s game will be the first time Houston has faced Florida at a neutral site during the series history.
at NCAA Tournament: Monday’s game will be the first time Houston has faced Florida at the NCAA Tournament during the series history.
UP NEXT
• With a win over #3/3 (1) Florida on Monday, Houston would claim the first NCAA Men’s Basketball national championship in school history and the 18th in Houston Athletics history, joining Men’s Golf (16) and Men’s Cross Country (1).
BUY TICKETS
Current season-ticket holders can renew their season tickets now through April 30 by clicking here and logging into their accounts.
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men’s Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH’s NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men’s Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team’s Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
