SAN ANTONIO — In a dramatic showdown for a spot in the national championship, two All-Americans faced off in San Antonio. Florida’s Gators emerged victorious in a nail-biting 79-73 win over Auburn on Saturday night during the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. Once again, Florida’s star guard Walter Clayton Jr. demonstrated his tremendous skill, propelling his team to victory. For Auburn’s forward Johni Broome, the night ended in disappointment, plagued by missed opportunities and a bothersome elbow injury.
As Broome exited the court, he received comforting words from none other than Auburn’s legendary player, Charles Barkley. “He thanked me for what I’ve done for Auburn. He told me to keep my head high,” Broome shared, reflecting on the impact of hearing such encouragement from a figure like Barkley.
With this win, Florida (35-4) secured their place in the championship game on Monday against Houston (35-4), who narrowly defeated Duke in a 70-67 victory in the second semifinal.
Clayton, known for his exceptional performance, once again lit up the court. Weaving through defenders with ease and skill, he managed to score an impressive 34 points. Meanwhile, Broome’s earlier promising performance dwindled as the game went on. Despite his elbow being wrapped following an injury in a previous match, Broome pushed forward, scoring early but struggling in the latter half.
Broome’s discomfort was evident as he sometimes cradled his elbow and avoided using it during fan interactions. Yet, he persisted, managing to grab rebounds and even succeed in difficult layups. “Here and there it was bothering me a little bit,” Broome admitted. “But nothing I couldn’t deal with.”
Initially dominating, Broome contributed 12 points during the first half. However, his momentum waned, adding just three more in the second half despite his status as the Southeastern Conference player of the year. His frustration reached a peak when he committed a foul against Florida’s Alex Condon. Further misses followed, including critical free throws with just over two minutes left, further dimming Auburn’s chances.
As the final buzzer sounded, Broome processed the defeat amid a swarm of cameras. Visibly emotional, he left the court after exchanging pleasantries with his opponents, his sorrow evident. It was here that Barkley offered his words of positivity.
Florida’s head coach, Todd Golden, observed that Auburn initially exerted a more physical presence. However, they managed to adjust and counter Auburn’s strategies effectively by the second half. “We stuck around and were hanging around, but felt like we were getting knocked around a little bit,” Golden noted. “But we controlled the second half.”
Clayton and his Florida teammates now look towards the championship game. His performance has been consistently stellar, effortlessly breaking through defenses and scoring under pressure. “The guys trust me to take those shots and sometimes they fall,” Clayton reflected.
A relentless force, Clayton shot 11 of 18 from the field, shone from beyond the arc with five three-pointers, and was perfect from the free-throw line. His dynamic play early in the second half sparked a pivotal 9-0 scoring run, revitalizing Florida as Auburn threatened to take charge.
Caught up in the moment, Clayton admits, “I haven’t really had time to reflect on what I’ve been doing. I’ve just been focused on winning games.”