What would Florida’s roller-coaster season be without a nerve-racking finish in the NCAA Tournament?
The Gators nearly sped past Mountain West favorite Nevada in Thursday’s first round with a dominant defensive performance inside a packed Wells Fargo Arena, but a near-collapse kept the Wolf Pack confident and a national audience attentive after halftime.
Florida (20-15) found a way to hold on 70-61, finally making stops again in the final two minutes to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
An 18-point lead. Jalen Hudson’s emphatic dunk before the halftime buzzer.