The Latest: Baylor 1st national title denies Zags perfection | Buffalo Sports
A pedestrian walks past a mock championship trophy before Baylor plays Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament championship basketball game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Monday, April 5, 2021.
General exterior view of Lucas Oil Stadium before Baylor plays Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament championship basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 5, 2021.
Fans pose with a Final Four logo before Baylor plays Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament championship basketball game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Monday, April 5, 2021.
Fans pose with a mock championship trophy before Baylor plays Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament championship basketball game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Monday, April 5, 2021.
Baylor head coach Scott Drew walks off the court at the end of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against Houston, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Baylor won 78-59.
Baylor guard MaCio Teague drives past Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert (24) during the first half of the championship game in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Players jump for the opening tipoff at the start of the championship game between Gonzaga and Baylor in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Gonzaga fans react during team introductions of the NCAA Final Four college championship basketball game between Gonzaga and Baylor during a watch party at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash., Monday, April 5, 2021.
Baylor guard MaCio Teague, right, shoots over Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) and guard Jalen Suggs (1) during the first half of the championship game in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Baylor head coach Scott Drew directs his team during the first half of the championship game against Gonzaga in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Gonzaga fans react while watching the NCAA Final Four college championship basketball game between Gonzaga and Baylor during a watch party at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash., Monday, April 5, 2021.
Baylor guard Jared Butler (12) celebrates with teammate guard Adam Flagler (10) during a timeout in the first half of the championship game against Gonzaga in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates in front of Baylor forward Flo Thamba (0) after making a basket during the second half of the championship game in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Baylor head coach Scott Drew gets a hug from guard Mark Vital at the end of the championship game against Gonzaga in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Baylor won 86-70.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the national championship game between Baylor and Gonzaga (all times local):
Baylor is on top of the college basketball world, winning its first national championship while denying perfection for Gonzaga.
All-American guard Jared Butler had 22 points and seven assists for the Bears in 86-70 victory Monday night. His backcourt mates did plenty as well.
MaCio Teague had 19 points and Davion Mitchell 15 for the Bears. Adam Flagler, a guard who will be back next season, added 13 points, and fifth-year senior Mark Vital had 11 rebounds. Baylor ended the season at 28-2.
Freshman Jalen Suggs had 22 points for Gonzaga, which finished 31-1.
Indiana is still the last undefeated national champion, back in 1976.
Suggs, who banked in a game-winning 3-pointer from just inside half court in overtime to beat UCLA in the national semifinal game, scored 15 of his points in the second half. Drew Timme and Corey Kispert each finished with 12 points for the Zags.
The Bears from the Big 12 raced out a 9-0 lead in the game’s first 2 1/2 minutes and never trailed. They led by 19 midway through the first half, the largest deficit Gonzaga had faced all season, and it was as many as 20 points after halftime even after the Zags got back within single digits briefly.
