In a surprising turn during Monday night’s NCAA national championship game, Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. was held scoreless in the first half against Houston. After back-to-back 30-point games in the tournament, Clayton went 0-for-4 from the field, leaving Gators fans stunned as Florida trailed 31-28 at halftime.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Florida, making its fourth appearance in a national title game. Clayton had scored 34 points against Auburn in the Final Four and 30 against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, but his first-half struggles quickly became a national talking point, with SportsCenter highlighting his shooting woes.
From Tournament Hero to Halftime Zero: Clayton’s Stunning Slump
Just days after becoming the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to post consecutive 30-point games this deep in the tournament, Clayton was shut down by Houston’s defense.
A tough first half for Walter Clayton Jr.
He was the only starter to remain scoreless at the half. pic.twitter.com/a9qSoDfvJN
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 8, 2025
The junior guard—who had been Florida’s top scorer during the tournament—missed all four of his first-half shots, including two from beyond the arc. He managed only two rebounds.
Completely SHUT DOWN.
— VFAM (@vfam_meta) April 8, 2025
“Completely SHUT DOWN” wrote X user capturing the sentiment of many shocked Florida supporters.
The scoreless half was particularly jarring considering Clayton’s dominance throughout Florida’s tournament run where he had established himself as the team’s primary offensive weapon and clutch performer.
Will Richard kept Florida close, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbing five rebounds.
Richard keeping em in the game rn
— Mo ❄️ (@PrymoETC) April 8, 2025
“Richard keeping em in the game rn,” another user posted, as the rest of the Gators’ starters also struggled. Alex Condon added six points, while Rueben Chinyelu and Alijah Martin had just two apiece.
Despite the offensive lull, Florida stayed within three points, showing the same depth that helped them knock off two-time defending champion UConn and top-seeded Auburn earlier in the tournament.
Fans Rally Behind Their Star: Predictions of Second-Half Redemption
Online reactions mixed frustration with cautious optimism. “He’ll turn it around! Or at least he better,” one fan posted. Others predicted a second-half surge.
Aight young blood was saving to go off the second half
— 2Easy (@UrJustTooEasy) April 8, 2025
Much of that confidence came from Clayton’s earlier performances—like the five threes he hit against Auburn—that helped carry Florida to its first national title game since 2007.
The stakes were high. Florida was looking for its third national championship, while Houston was seeking its first. This was just the 11th time in NCAA Tournament history that two No. 1 seeds faced off in the title game, adding to the pressure.
For Florida fans, this was a chance to return to the top after an 18-year title drought. Despite Clayton’s struggles, their belief in the team remained—fueled by comeback wins over Texas Tech and a near-collapse averted against UConn.
KEEP READING: How Kelvin Sampson Turned Houston Into a Contender
Finally, after 25 minutes and 3 seconds of game time, Clayton scored his first point. The long-awaited bucket gave Gators fans hope that their top scorer might still deliver when it mattered most.
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