The first ticket to the Final Four has been secured, and it belongs to No. 1 seed Florida.
Behind an impressive 18-4 run in the final 2:50 of the second half, Todd Golden, Walter Clayton Jr. and the No. 1 seed Gators booked their plane ticket to San Antonio and the Final Four with an 84-79 win over No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the Elite Eight of the West Region in San Francisco.
The Gators, winners of the SEC tournament, are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2014. Golden becomes the first head coach under the age of 40 to lead a team to that stage of March Madness since Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens led VCU and Butler, respectively, to the 2011 Final Four.
Watch Florida vs Texas Tech basketball live with Sling TV
Walter Clayton Jr. and Tommy Haugh took over the game down the stretch for the Gators, who were trailing by 10 points at the 6:18 mark of the second half, with clutch shots. The two combined for 50 points in Saturday’s win.
‘They did it all year. They are incredibly resilient. They stayed the course. Never too high. Never too low,’ Golden told CBS’ Lauren Shehadi after the game on why Florida was able to pull the come-from-behind win off. ‘We were down nine going into that last media (timeout). We just had to dig in and get some stops.’
Florida will face the winner of the East Region in the national semifinals on Saturday, April 5 in San Antonio.
USA TODAY Sports followed all the action from Saturday’s game. Follow here for a recap of scores, highlights and analysis from Florida’s massive win:
Florida basketball score vs Texas Tech
Florida defeated Texas Tech 84-79 in the Elite Eight of the West Region to advance to the Final Four of the men’s NCAA Tournament thanks to a 18-4 run over the last 2:50 to end the game. The Gators hit three of their last four 3-pointers down the stretch.
The Gators are advancing to their first Final Four under Todd Golden, and the first one in program history since 2014.
Florida vs Texas Tech Elite Eight highlights
Here’s a look at some highlights from Saturday’s Elite Eight game between Florida and Texas Tech:
Florida secures ticket to Final Four
The Gators didn’t wait long to celebrate their Elite Eight win, as they received the West Regional trophy on the court at Chase Center shortly after the final buzzer.
‘How about those Gators, baby!’ Golden said as he hoisted the trophy.
Walter Clayton Jr. points today
After just having eight points in the first half, the Gators’ leading scorer took over in the second half as he scored 22 points on 4-of-8 shooting in the second half alone. He gave Florida its first lead since the 19:49 mark of the second half with 59 seconds remaining in the contest on a 3-pointer.
Tommy Haugh points today
Tommy Haugh was a walking bucket for Florida in its Elite Eight win against No. 3 seed Texas Tech, as he finished with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. He led the Gators in the first half with 12 points.
Haugh’s 20 points tie a season high for the 6-foot-9 sophomore forward.
Walter Clayton Jr. puts Florida ahead
WALTER. CLAYTON. JR.
The Gators’ leading scorer hits a massive 3-pointer to give Florida a 78-77 lead with 59 seconds remaining in the second half. Once trailing by 10 points at the 6:18 mark of the second half, Florida has gone on a 12-2 run over the last 2:29 to retake the lead.
Florida ties the games
The Gators aren’t going out without a fight!
Walter Clayton Jr. hits a 3-pointer in transition to tie the game at 75-75 with 1:23 remaining in the second half against Texas Tech. The Gators are currently on a 9-0 run over the last 1:32.
Texas Tech pulling away
The Red Raiders are starting to break away from the Gators in the second half of Saturday’s Sweet 16 game, as they lead 71-61 with 6:30 remaining in the game. Texas Tech has hit four of its last five shots from the field.
Florida basketball coach age
Florida’s men’s basketball coach, Todd Golden, is 39 years old. He was born on July 7, 1985.
Florida vs Texas Tech halftime score
Florida leads Texas Tech 40-37 at halftime in San Francisco. The Gators bounced back nicely in the final minutes of the first half after going through an over-six-minute stretch where they didn’t get a shot to fall in from the field.
Walter Clayton Jr. took over down the stretch for the Gators on both ends of the court, as he scored six of his eight first-half points in the final five minutes. On top of winning the rebound battle 20-17, a reason for Florida’s halftime lead can be pointed to its perfect 10-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.
Thomas Haugh points today
Thomas Haugh continues to have a breakout West Regional for Florida, as he leads the Gators with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting after the first half vs. Texas Tech. He is 2 of 3 from beyond the arc with six rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Texas Tech basketball coach
Grant McCasland is in his second season as the head coach at Texas Tech and has led the Red Raiders to the men’s NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. He entered Saturday’s game vs. Florida with a 51-19 overall record.
Before being hired at Texas Tech ahead of the 2023-24 season, McCasland spent six seasons at North Texas in Conference USA.
Walter Clayton Jr. points today
The Gators’ leading scorer is off to a rough start in Saturday’s Elite Eight game, as he only has two points at the under-eight media timeout of the first half on 0 for 2 shooting from the field with an assist. Both of Clayton Jr.’s points have come from the charity stripes.
Lowest seed to win men’s March Madness
The lowest seed to win the men’s NCAA Tournament is No. 8 seed Villanova in 1985, as the Wildcats defeated their Big East foe Georgetown 66-64 for their first national championship title in program history.
The Wildcats’ record won’t be beaten this year, as the lowest seed left in the field of 68 is No. 3 Texas Tech.
Florida 7-9 player
Though he likely won’t play in Saturday’s game for Florida, TBS cameras may pan to the Gators’ sideline, where one player will tower over the rest: 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in men’s college basketball history.
Florida basketball coach
Todd Golden is in his third season as the head coach of the Florida basketball program. He entered Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. Texas Tech with a 77-33 record in Gainesville.
In his third season with the Gators, Golden has led Florida to a historic season, as highlighted by its No. 1 seed in the men’s NCAA Tournament and SEC tournament title. Golden has also made some history for himself this year, as he led Florida to three top-10 road wins in the regular season, which set a new program record for a head coach in a single season.
He played college basketball for Saint Mary’s and coached at the University of San Francisco before taking the job at Florida ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Florida takes lead with extended run
The Gators get their first lead of the night thanks to a 3-pointer from Thomas Haugh. It’s an 8-0 run over the last 2:28 for Florida.
Texas Tech controlling rebounds
Texas Tech has controlled the paint in the first 4:38, as the Red Raiders are narrowly out-rebounding the Gators 5-3 at the under-16 media timeout. If Texas Tech wants to advance to the Final Four and knock off top-seeded Florida, the Red Raiders will need to continue winning the rebound battle.
Kerwin Walton starts hot from 3-point land
After not hitting a single 3-pointer in the last two games vs. Drake and Arkansas, Texas Tech’s Kerwin Walton is feeling it early in Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. Florida as he hits back-to-back 3-pointer to open the game.
Florida vs Texas Tech underway
Away we go in San Francisco! Florida and Texas Tech are underway at the Chase Center in the first of four Elite Eight games in the men’s NCAA Tournament. After winning the tip-off, the Red Raiders are the first to get on the board thanks to a 3-pointer from Kerwin Walton on a second-chance bucket.
Walter Clayton Jr. stats
Clayton Jr. enters Saturday’s Elite Eight game leading Florida in scoring with 17.9 points per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. He also leads the Gators in assists at 4.4 helpers per game.
JT Toppin stats
Toppin enters Saturday’s Elite Eight game leading Texas Tech in both points per game and rebounds per game at 18.2 and 9.3, respectively.
The sophomore forward has been on a tear in the men’s NCAA Tournament, as he is averaging 19.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks in three March Madness games while shooting a scorching 69.2% from the field.
Florida starting lineup
Here’s the starting lineup for Florida vs. Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday:
Walter Clayton Jr., Guard
Will Richard, Guard
Alijah Martin, Guard
Alex Condon, Forward
Rueben Chinyelu, Center
Texas Tech starting lineup
Here’s the starting lineup for Texas Tech vs. Florida in the Elite Eight on Saturday:
Elijah Hawkins, Guard
Christian Anderson, Guard
Kerwin Walton, Guard
Darrion Williams, Forward
JT Toppin, Forward
Chance McMillian injury update
According to Fox Sports’ John Fanta, Texas Tech will have back Chance McMillian for Saturday’s Elite Eight game vs. No. 1 seed Florida. McMillian has missed the last five games for the Red Raiders with an upper-body injury.
Florida vs Texas Tech men’s basketball betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, March 29
Spread: Florida -7.5
Over/under: 158.5
Moneyline: Florida (-375) | Texas Tech (+290)
Florida vs Texas Tech picks and predictions
Here’s a look at who the USA TODAY Network’s experts have winning Saturday’s Elite Eight game:
Kevin Brockway: Florida 84, Texas Tech 73
Jordan Mendoza: Florida
Nathan Giese: Texas Tech 81, Florida 80
When was the last time Florida made the Final Four?
A win for Florida would send the Gators to the Final Four for the first time since 2014, and would mark the sixth Final Four appearance in program history.
To get to the Elite Eight, Florida defeated No. 16 seed Norfolk State in the first round, No. 8 seed UConn in the second round and No. 4 seed Maryland in the Sweet 16.
Texas Tech injury report
Texas Tech has been without second-team All-Big 12 selection Chance McMillian for the last four games, though there is a chance he could return to action on Saturday vs. Florida after dealing with a strained oblique.
When was the last time Texas Tech made the Final Four?
A win for Texas Tech would send the Red Raiders to the Final Four for the second time in program history, and the first time since 2019.
To get to the Elite Eight, Texas Tech defeated No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round, No. 11 seed Drake in the second round and No. 10 seed Arkansas in the Sweet 16.
What time is Florida vs Texas Tech?
Date: Saturday, March 29
Time: 6:09 p.m. ET
Florida and Texas Tech will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 29 in the Elite Eight of the West Region at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Where to watch Florida vs Texas Tech?
TV Channels: TBS | truTV
Live Stream Options: March Madness Live app | Sling TV
TBS will nationally broadcast Florida vs. Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on Saturday, with a simulcast airing on truTV. Streaming options for the game include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login) and Sling TV.