San Francisco, CA — Florida’s experienced seniors and deep bench provided relentless energy, ultimately overpowering Maryland’s determined “Crab Five.”
Gators head coach Todd Golden watched as his team gradually wore down the Terrapins.
Will Richard led Florida with 15 points, while Alijah Martin added 14 points and seven rebounds. The top-seeded Gators controlled the second half, pulling away from fourth-seeded Maryland for an 87-71 victory Thursday night, securing their spot in the NCAA tournament’s West Region final.
Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 13 points and four assists, as Florida’s veteran leadership and depth proved too much for Maryland’s starting five—a concern voiced by Terrapins coach Kevin Willard before the matchup.
“We bring energy every time we step on the court,” said Florida reserve Denzel Aberdeen, who scored 12 points in 19 minutes. “Everybody stays ready, and we stepped up when needed.”
Maryland freshman standout Derik Queen delivered an impressive 27-point performance in what could be Willard’s final game leading the program.
“Their bench really wore us down,” Willard admitted after the loss.
With the win, Florida (33-4) advances to Saturday’s Elite Eight, where they will face third-seeded Texas Tech, who edged past No. 10 seed Arkansas 85-82 in overtime in the night’s other game at Chase Center.
Returning to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017, Florida is aiming for its first Final Four appearance since 2014. Despite committing 13 of their 17 turnovers in the first half, the Gators settled down after halftime. According to ESPN Research, this marks Florida’s 10th Elite Eight appearance and first since 2017.
Florida’s tournament run has been remarkable, having already eliminated two-time defending champion UConn in the second round. The victory also extended their Sweet 16 winning streak to nine games, the second-longest since the round’s inception in 1975.
“The message was simple: Take care of the basketball,” said Golden, now in his third year leading the Gators.
Maryland’s “Crab Five,” which includes Julian Reese—brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, who was in attendance—fought back in the first half after Florida threatened to run away early. Queen, who hit a buzzer-beater to defeat Colorado State in the previous round, shot 8-for-17 and was perfect from the free-throw line, making all 10 attempts.
Florida’s trio of Clayton, Martin, and Richard combined for 42 points, with three additional Gators reaching double figures. This balanced attack mirrored their previous win over UConn, where the senior core accounted for 56 of Florida’s 77 points. The victory was particularly meaningful for Golden, who has deep ties to the Bay Area from his playing days at Saint Mary’s and coaching tenure at the University of San Francisco.
For now, Florida’s journey continues.
“It’s surreal,” Golden said. “Personally, I just don’t want this to end. We have such a close-knit group, and this has been an incredible ride.”
As for Willard, his future remains uncertain. With reported interest from Villanova and his public concerns about Maryland’s program direction, change could be on the horizon.
Earlier in the day, fans booed as the Terrapins departed their hotel. Golden had acknowledged Maryland’s talent before the game, calling them “freaky talented.”
Now, Florida looks ahead to its next challenge, just one win away from the Final Four.
