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Jet, April 24, 2000

After a 21-year wait, the Michigan State Spartans once again claimed the national title, defeating the University of Florida Gators 89-76 in the recent NCAA men's championship at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The Spartans (32-7), the only top-seeded team to reach the Final Four, finished 33-for-59 from the field (56 percent) in the win over the fifth-seeded Gators (29-9), the best against Florida's frantic pace in the tournament. The previous best was 43 percent by top-ranked Duke in the regional semifinals.

Florida, making its first championship appearance, challenged Michigan State to a footrace, but the Spartans attacked Florida's fullcourt press aggressively and got the ball downcourt so quickly that it rarely needed to run an offensive play in the first half.

The Spartans even adjusted when Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves went down early in the second half with a sprained right ankle. In the 4 1/2 minutes it took for the senior to get retaped, Michigan State even expanded its lead to 58-50.

Cleaves finished with 18 points and Michigan State forwards Morris Peterson and A.J. Granger had 21 and 19 points respectively. Cleaves was 7-for-11 from the field--including 3-of-4 from outside the 3-point arc--even though he didn't take a shot after his injury.

Florida center Udonis Haslem finished with a season-high 27 points and shot 10-for-12. The Gators' Brent Wright added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Florida coach Billy Donovan said his team's style was a gamble against Michigan State, which won all six games in the tournament by at least 11 points in becoming the first Big Ten team to win the championship since Michigan in 1989.

"From last year to this year, we made great strides and jumps," Donovan said. "But we've got to make some more steps. I think we'll use this as a great learning experience."

When it ended, the Spartans had won its first title since NBA veteran Magic Johnson led the team to the championship in 1979. Magic was even on hand to cheer his alma mater on to victory.

"Maybe as the days go by, I'll realize that we've actually done it," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said.