Baylor Tops Gonzaga For Its First Men's NCAA Tournament Championship

By Anna Gallegos

Baylor defeated Gonzaga 86-70 on Monday night at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to take home its first NCAA men's basketball championship.

"Our guys, when the best is needed, the best is provided. The better the opponent, the better they play," Baylor coach Scott Drew said after the game.

The bears also put an end to Gonzaga's 31 game winning streak.

"It's a really, really tough one to end a storybook season on, but listen, Baylor just beat us. They beat us in every facet of the game and deserve all the credit," said Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

For Baylor, the win was well worth the wait. This year's March Madness was the first complete tournament since the pandemic started, and Baylor had to build back their team after three-week break in February because of COVID.

Baylor now becomes the second Texas team to win a men's NCAA championship. The first was Texas Western University in 1966.

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears sits on a ladder with the trophy after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears cuts down the nets after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears goes up to the basket against Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears goes to the basket against Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes up to the basket against Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Fans of the Baylor Bears look on during the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    MaCio Teague #31 of the Baylor Bears goes up for a basket against Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Drew Timme #2 hugs Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs after losing to the Baylor Bears in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes up for a basket against the Baylor Bears in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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    Baylor v Gonzaga

    Baylor v Gonzaga

    The Baylor Bears pose with the National Championship trophy after winning the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Photos: Getty Images

 

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