Heartbreaker
Cougars' stellar season concludes with agonizing loss to Florida in national title game
Apr 7, 2025, 10:36 pm
Florida rallied to be the Cougars, 65-63. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images.
Florida and Walter Clayton Jr. somehow overcame Houston’s spirit-crushing defense Monday night to will out a 65-63 victory in an NCAA title-game thriller not decided until Clayton’s own D stopped the Cougars from taking a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Clayton finished with 11 points, all in the second half, but what he’ll be remembered for most was getting Houston’s Emanuel Sharp to stop in the middle of his motion as he tried to go up for the game-winning 3 in the final seconds.
Clayton ran at him, Sharp dropped the ball and, unable to pick it up lest he get called for traveling, watched it bounce there while the clock ticked to zero.
Will Richard had 18 points to keep the Gators (36-4) in it, and they won their third overall title and first since 2007. The Cougars (35-5) and coach Kelvin Sampson were denied their first championship.
This was a defensive brawl, and for most of the night, Clayton got the worst of it.
He was 0 for 4 from the field without a point through the first half. He didn’t score until 14:57 remained in the game. He finished with one 3-pointer and, before that, a pair of three-point plays that kept the Gators in striking range.
It was Florida’s defense, not Houston’s, that controlled the final minute.
After Alijah Martin made two free throws to put Florida ahead 64-63 -- its first lead since 8-6 -- the Gators lured Sharp into a triple-team in the corner, where Richard got him to dribble the ball off his leg and out of bounds.
Florida made one free throw on the next possession and that set up the finale. The ball went to Sharp, who was moving to spot up for a 3 when Clayton ran at him. That left him with no choice but to let the ball go.
Sampson, who designed a defense that held Florida under 70 points for only the second time this season, looked on in shock.
Instead of Sampson becoming the oldest coach to win the title at age 69, 39-year-old Todd Golden becomes the youngest since N.C. State's Jim Valvano in 1983 to win it all.
Why the Texans were smart to deal John Metchie for Harrison Bryant
Aug 19, 2025, 3:28 pm
The Astros will need a bounce-back performance Tuesday night in Detroit after dropping the series opener in lopsided fashion. Houston (69-56) has managed to stay atop the AL West (1.5 game lead), but recent struggles on both sides of the ball have left little margin for error as the season winds down.
Hunter Brown gets the ball for Houston, and few pitchers have been more reliable in 2025. The right-hander enters at 10-5 with a 2.45 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 164 strikeouts — numbers that have made him an anchor of an otherwise up-and-down staff. His challenge, however, is no small one. Across the mound, Detroit counters with Tarik Skubal, who is putting together one of the best seasons of any pitcher in the league with an 11-3 record, 2.42 ERA, and 190 strikeouts.
The Tigers (74-53) come in with momentum, owning a 40-24 record at home and winners of seven of their last ten. Their pitching has been a backbone all season, ranking fourth in the American League in ERA at 3.81. Detroit also holds a 1-0 edge in this series after Monday night’s rout, though the season set remains tied at two games apiece.
Astros' secret sauce
For Houston, the formula is simple — score early and often. The Astros are 41-7 when pushing across at least five runs, but they’ve been stuck in a rut lately, hitting just .212 over their last 10 games while their pitching staff has posted a 5.87 ERA.
Jose Altuve continues to be a steady presence in the lineup with 22 homers and 64 RBIs, while Jeremy Peña will look to build on flashes of power despite going just 7-for-36 over his past 10 games. For Detroit, Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene have carried the offense of late, with Greene driving in eight runs over his last 10 contests.
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. EDT at Comerica Park, where the Astros will try to even the series and keep their hold on the AL West lead intact.
Betting odds
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -172, Astros +143; over/under is 7 runs
Roster moves
The Astros have recalled RHP Logan VanWey and designated RHP Tayler Scott for assignment after a rough outing against the Tigers.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/u8VC1GZJbc
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 19, 2025
Starting lineups
The first thing that jumps off the page is that the Astros are sending all right-handed hitters to face Skubal.
Diesel in Detroit.
⚾️: 5:40 PM CDT | 6:40 PM EDT
📺: @SpaceCityHN | @TBSNetwork (HOU blackout)
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/GqZth9VfJm
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 19, 2025
Nothing unusual with the top four being Pena, Correa, 'Tuve, and Walker. Yainer Diaz will catch and hit fifth, followed by Ramon Urias (2B), Mauricio Dubon (LF), Cam Smith (RF), and Chas McCormick (CF).
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