By Joshua Miranda

Sports Capital Journalism Program

SAN ANTONIO – The taste of victory is sweet, but defeat is bitter. The closer defeat is to victory, the more the bitterness intensifies. Tonight, the Houston Cougars left the Alamodome in San Antonio not just with a loss, but with a bitter memory, a bitter anger and a bitter result. The Florida Gators beat the Cougars 65-63 to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in enthralling fashion.

Despite controlling the game and leading for 30:44, Houston saw its championship hopes slip away, undone by a rejuvenated Gators offense and a series of unforced errors in the decisive moments. If you dared to look away from the happiness and cheers on the court and peek inside the Houston locker room, you’d see a sight that could break your heart. The air was heavy with the stench of tears, more intense than a hospital waiting room.

From the showers came loud, anguished screams and the sound of fists hitting walls, painting a picture of what cameras couldn’t capture. Mylik Wilson sat in his locker beneath a white portable light that highlighted his red, swollen eyes. Cedric Lath wore his emotions openly, sobbing while clinging to his teammates in a long, consoling hug.

Kordelius Jefferson was in a trance, repeating “We’re going to be back” to himself over and over, oblivious to the media. Terrance Arceneaux separated himself from the scene, sitting alone in the far corner of the oversized locker room, face buried in his turned-in jersey. Jacob McFarland hid deep in his locker. Joseph Tugler, J’Wan Roberts and L.J. Cryer were among the few answering questions with composure, maybe a sign that the loss hadn’t fully set in.

“No regrets,” Roberts said. “We play the game with no regrets. Our boys played their hearts out, and we just came up short.”

The Cougars’ biggest mistakes came at the worst possible time. In the final 1:21 of the most important game of the season, Houston lost the ball over four times, lost its lead, lost crucial calls, and ultimately, lost the game.

The first two turnovers came from Tugler and Cryer. But the final two, and most devastating, were by Emanuel Sharp. The Israeli American guard had been hailed for his offense in the team’s crucial comeback against Duke. But tonight, under the brightest lights and the biggest stage, he froze. With 28.5 seconds left, Sharp was trapped by Alex Condon, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. He lost control, and the ball rolled in the Gators’ favor. Florida led by one with 26 seconds to play.

Denzel Aberdeen left the door open with a missed free throw, but on the next possession, Sharp closed it shut. With five seconds left, he caught the ball near the top of the key. As Clayton Jr. flew toward him, the same defender who had blocked a 3-point attempt earlier in the second half, Sharp hesitated. Perhaps shaken by the memory, he didn’t take the shot.

One of the stages of grief is bargaining. Sampson knew a two-pointer would’ve been enough. He didn’t need a 3-point shot. What if Sharp faked and went for the tie? What if?

Those questions may haunt Sharp too. He broke down at center court after the buzzer, head down as he crouched, consoled by Clayton Jr., who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. What was going through Sharp’s mind remains unknown as he declined to speak with the media.

The Gators have made a name for themselves with come-from-behind wins. But Houston’s defense had contained them for much of the night, holding Clayton Jr. scoreless for nearly a half and a half. Out of the break, the Cougars extended their lead to 12 with 16:24 remaining. All they had to do was maintain the course.

But Houston’s success hinged on its defense, which often masked it’s offensive struggles. The Cougars shot just 31.3% in the second half. Their inefficiency didn’t hurt as long as Florida’s offense remained stagnant. Once Clayton Jr. finally got going at the free-throw line, the floodgates opened and Houston got soaked.

In the end, Houston had a great season, one of the best teams in the country, pulling off one of the most iconic comebacks in the Final Four and proving doubters wrong. But the record books only remember the winners. And unfortunately for the Cougars, they just missed the cut.