THE NCAA National Tournament final has etched plenty of names into basketball folklore with performances on the big stage, and in Tuesday’s classic between the Duke Blue Devils and the Houston Cougars, it was Will Richard who stepped up.

The Blue Devils and the Cougars played out a classic in the decider, with the Blue Devils claiming a two-point win to take out the ultimate prize for the first time since 2007. In a contest that went down to the wire, the Cougars could not get off a shot on the final possession in a disappointing finish to a solid performance from Houston overall.

It was a fitting way for Florida to finish a campaign led by the likes of Walter Clayton Jr. and Aussie Alex Condon, and was reward for an exceptional effort against the best perimeter defence team in the nation on the big stage.

However, it was Richard who was the catalyst for the Gators’ win, stepping up when Clayton Jr. was well-guarded for much of the contest and keeping his side in the match with some crucial shotmaking across all four quarters.

It was a slow start for Richard and the Gators, with the guard going scoreless in the opening minutes of the game and spending some time on the bench in the first half. It looked as if the Cougars were going to storm away on the scoreboard, but Richard produced back to back three-pointers to draw the Gators back into the contest, with his makes much needed given how well Houston was defending.

He tied up the game a few minutes later with his third three-pointer of the game, single-handedly keeping the Gators in the fight with his long-range shooting. He nailed a jumpshot shortly after, and then his fourth triple of the half in one of the most important shots of the game, given Houston was awfully close to heading into the break with a hefty advantage.

Eleven first-half points had Richard as the most influential player on the floor, and kept the Gators within three points at half time. With Clayton Jr. well guarded, it was imperative that the Gators had someone else step up in his absence, and Richard answered the call.

He came up with a vital steal in the final 30 seconds of the game, sending his team to the free throw line and extending the lead out to two (the final margin), while his own composure at the charity stripe was evident, going 4/4 after half-time.

It was a memorable performance from the Florida guard, who delivered his most important performance in a Gators uniform, and leading his side to the promised land in the process.