Overview

• Florida Gators defeated Auburn Tigers 79-73 in the NCAA Final Four, advancing to the championship game for the first time in 18 years.
• Walter Clayton Jr. delivered a historic 34-point performance, becoming the first player since 1979 to score consecutive 30-point games in the Elite Eight and Final Four.
• Auburn led 46-38 at halftime but faltered in the second half, committing 14 turnovers that led to 16 points for Florida.
• Charles Barkley, an Auburn alumnus, expressed pride in the Tigers' effort but acknowledged Florida's superiority and praised Clayton as 'the real deal.'
• Auburn's Johni Broome contributed 15 points despite playing through an arm injury but struggled to maintain impact in the final 15 minutes of the game.