SAN ANTONIO — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points and Florida beat Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four on Saturday night, sending the Gators to the national championship game for the first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007.
The All-America guard for the Gators (35-4) had a driving layup with 2:24 left, on the possession right after Australian big man Alex Condon drew a charge against Johni Broome, the other All-America player in this national semifinal — and who was dealing with an injured right elbow.
After a record 14 SEC teams made this NCAA Tournament, seven got to the Sweet 16 before the league made up half the Elite Eight and then this Final Four filled with No. 1 seeds.
The Gators will have the chance Monday night to win the SEC’s first title since Kentucky in 2012, the only one since they won in back-to-back seasons. Florida takes an 11-game winning streak into the title championship game in the Alamodome against either Duke or Houston.
Auburn (32-6), in its second Final Four with coach Bruce Pearl, was the top overall seed.
Clayton became the first player with consecutive 30-point games in the Elite Eight and semifinals since Larry Bird for Indiana State in 1979, according to ESPN Stats. Clayton got over 30 with his three-point play with 1:33 left, scoring on a layup while being fouled and adding the free throw.
Alijah Martin, who played in the Final Four with FAU two years ago, added 17 points for the Gators. Thomas Haugh had 12.
Chad Baker-Mazara, with his left hand partially wrapped because of a thumb issue, led Auburn with 18 points, with four 3-pointers. Broome finished with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting and had seven rebounds.
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