SAN ANTONIO — Florida basketball’s Walter Clayton and Houston’s L.J. Cryer will be two of the players spotlighted in the national championship game of the Final Four at the Alamodome.
As the lead guards for the Gators (35-4) and Cougars (35-4), Clayton and Cryer have consistently shown up in big-time moments to get their teams within a win of raising a trophy and cutting down the nets.
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A graduate guard from Texas, Cryer is averaging 15.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game in his final season at Houston. A senior guard from Florida, Clayton is averaging 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Gators.
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Here’s a breakdown of what Cryer and Clayton have provided for their teams on the path to the Final Four’s finale in the NCAA Tournament final.
Walter Clayton stats in March Madness, NCAA Tournament
Clayton is averaging 24.6 points through five NCAA Tournament games as one of the stars of March Madness. He’s coming off back-to-back games with at least 30 points, including a 34-point performance against Auburn in the national semifinals of the Final Four.
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Clayton has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in each of Florida’s five tournament games on 48.7% shooting, including five treys against Auburn. He’s also gotten to the free-throw line, attempting at least six free throws in every March Madness game. Clayton has made 20 of 21 free throws in the last two games. But he has struggled with turnovers at times, with multiple turnovers in four of five games.
LJ Cryer stats in March Madness, NCAA Tournament
Cryer is averaging 18.6 points through five NCAA Tournament games as the Cougars’ most consistent scorer in March Madness. He had 26 points, including six 3-pointers, against Duke in the national semifinals of the Final Four.
Mar 15, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Cougars guard LJ Cryer (4) controls the ball while defended by Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Chance McMillian (0) in the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
Cryer is shooting 45.2% from 3-point range, draining six treys in two of five March Madness games. He’s dished out multiple assists in four of five games, with 12 rebounds across the last two games as an all-around contributor. He has 17 assists and two turnovers in the tournament.
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Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball vs Houston: Walter Clayton Jr vs LJ Cryer stats entering NCAA final
