Golden's boys fend off Cougars' attack to clinch NCAA title

SAN ANTONIO — Florida's Walter Clayton Jr came up with the perfect going-away present for that spirit-crushing Houston defense that bullied, battered and bedeviled him all night.

It was a defensive gem of his own. Right before the buzzer. For the win and the national title.

The Gators and Clayton somehow overcame Houston's lock-down intensity Monday night to grind out a 65-63 victory in an NCAA title-game thriller, which was decided when the Florida senior's own D stopped the Cougars from taking a game-winning shot at the buzzer.