Baylor spoils Gonzaga’s unbeaten season to win its 1st national title

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  • Baylor forward Flo Thamba, left, battles for a rebound with Gonzaga forward Drew Timme during the first half of Monday’s national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua dunks the ball during the second half of Monday’s national championship game against Gonzaga at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears and Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs fight for a loose ball 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)

  • Baylor guard Jared Butler (12) shoots between Gonzaga forward Anton Watson, left, and guard Andrew Nembhard (3) 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears reacts against 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)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme loses control of the ball ahead of Baylor guard Mark Vital, rear, 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. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs defends against Mark Vital #11 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)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates after making a basket during the second half of the championship game against Baylor in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears falls to the ground in 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears looks on during 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: MaCio Teague #31 of the Baylor Bears reacts against 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)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) passes around Baylor forward Flo Thamba, right, 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. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Matthew Mayer #24 of the Baylor Bears attempts to steal the ball from 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Adam Flagler #10 of the Baylor Bears defends against 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears defends against Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs defends against Jared Butler #12 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Gonzaga Bulldogs fans cheer during the first half 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots the ball against Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears during the first half 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 and Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears dives for a loose ball against 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Joel Ayayi #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes for a lay up during the first half in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and MaCio Teague #31 of the Baylor Bears fight for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua #23 of the Baylor Bears defends against a lay up by Andrew Nembhard #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears battle for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears drives to the basket as Joel Ayayi #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs defends 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears and Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs fight for a loose ball 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears and Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs fight for a rebound during 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears battle for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears battle for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes for a lay up against Flo Thamba #0 and Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears during the first half 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Fans 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears battle for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes for the lay up against Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears during the first half 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Matthew Mayer #24 of the Baylor Bears takes a shot as Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs defends 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 and Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears defend 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears and Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs fight for a rebound 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Matthew Mayer #24 and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua #23 fight for a rebound against Jalen Suggs #1 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and MaCio Teague #31 of the Baylor Bears battle for a loose ball 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dribbles against MaCio Teague #31 of the Baylor Bears during the first half 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears and Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dive for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Baylor forward Flo Thamba fights for a loose ball with Gonzaga 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. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears and Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dive for a loose ball 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Gonzaga head coach Mark Few reacts on the bench during the first half of the championship game against Baylor in the men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Aaron Cook #4 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs plays defense against Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua #23 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the basket against MaCio Teague #31 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)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, shoots over Baylor forward Flo Thamba 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Baylor guard MaCio Teague (31) celebrates after making a 3-point basket 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, fights for a loose ball with Baylor guard MaCio Teague, right, 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Baylor guard Adam Flagler is fouled by 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. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) blocks a shot by Baylor guard Davion Mitchell (45) 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Baylor forward Flo Thamba (0) celebrates after blocking a shot by Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert (24) fouls Baylor guard Adam Flagler (10) 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Baylor forward Flo Thamba shoots over Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert, left, 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: L.J. Cryer #4 of the Baylor Bears celebrates 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears reacts during 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Flo Thamba #0 and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua #23 of the Baylor Bears react on the bench 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)

  • 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. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Baylor guard Davion Mitchell, left, and Baylor guard Mark Vital celebrate at the end of their national championship game victory over Gonzaga on Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Baylor never trailed in its 86-70 win. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 and Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears celebrate after The Baylor Bears defeated 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jalen Suggs #1, Corey Kispert #24, Andrew Nembhard #3 and Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react after losing the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament to the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: MaCio Teague #31 and Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears celebrate after The Baylor Bears defeated 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 and Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears celebrate after The Baylor Bears defeated 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Julian Strawther #0 and Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react after losing the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament to the Baylor Bears 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)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears celebrates on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears celebrates on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears celebrates on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua #23 of the Baylor Bears celebrates on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 05: Matthew Mayer #24 and Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears celebrate after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 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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INDIANAPOLIS — There was another team out there that was marching through the season undefeated, that looked unstoppable at times, that had all arrows pointing toward a national title.

COVID-19 put a halt to the undefeated dream. Nothing could stop Baylor from cutting down the nets.

Not even Gonzaga.

The fresh-as-can-be Bears obliterated wobbly-legged Gonzaga’s march to its own undefeated season Monday night. It was an 86-70 runaway that brought this once-downtrodden program’s first national title back home to Waco, Texas.

Jared Butler scored 22 points and MaCio Teague had 19 for the Bears (28-2), who were ranked second or third in the AP poll all year long. But never first. That was because of one team and maybe, just maybe, because of a three-week break that put a halt to a 17-0 start and sapped some of Baylor’s burgeoning momentum.

“Prior to COVID, us and Gonzaga were on the track to being undefeated,” Coach Scott Drew reminded everyone in the socially distanced arena, during a TV interview, while brushing off confetti.

So maybe this blowout in one of the most anticipated national championship games in memory – a meeting between teams whose own regular-season matchup in December was scrapped because of a coronavirus outbreak – shouldn’t come as such a shock.

The two losses that came after Baylor’s COVID-19 break in February felt like a far-off memory come March. Then came April, and the feeling grew even stronger.

Baylor outscored all six of its opponents in the NCAA Tournament by an average of 15 points. It beat Houston by 19 in the semifinal. Less than 5 minutes into the final, the Bears were ahead of Gonzaga by double digits.

Pounding the offensive glass – Baylor won that battle 16-5 – and winning the lion’s share of the 50-50 balls, the Bears weren’t about to let this one come down to a Jalen Suggs miracle. The Gonzaga freshman’s bank-shot buzzer-beater from near the half-court logo got the Zags to the final in a game that stood as their first true test of the season.

They passed against UCLA. Against Baylor? Not even close.

“When you come against a team that’s just firing on all cylinders for 40 minutes, it’s kind of hard to compete with,” Zags forward Corey Kispert said.

After running to a 19-point lead early, the Bears never let Gonzaga get any closer than nine. Butler made four 3-pointers and added seven assists, and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.

“I knew at some point, we were up big,” said Butler, who insisted his team wasn’t focused on the scoreboard. “We were scoring, they weren’t scoring. It was just electrifying.”

Guard Davion Mitchell – nicknamed “Off Night” because so many opponents encounter one when they go against him – finished with 15 points and did the best he could on Suggs. The freshman finished with 22 points, most of them after this game was out of hand, and likely will be heading to the NBA draft next.

Gonzaga’s first loss in 32 games this season – 36 dating to 2019-20 – leaves Indiana’s 1975-76 team as the last to go undefeated.

Baylor was up 9-0 after 2½ minutes, and the Bulldogs faced only their fourth double-digit deficit of the season at 11-1. They faced their biggest deficit of the season – 15 points – with 7:10 gone. By then, Suggs had two fouls and was watching from the bench.

After the game, he was crying – burying his head on the shoulder of one teammate, then another.

“He’s a winner and he lost for the first time in college basketball,” Zags coach Mark Few said. “He’s highly competitive and doesn’t like losing. In his mind, he saw us cutting down nets.”

But more than anything he did in the title game, it was Suggs’ memorable basket two nights earlier that laid the groundwork for Gonzaga in this one. His 40-foot shot at the buzzer vs. UCLA capped one of the most riveting college basketball games ever. Back on the floor about 46 hours after that emotional roller coaster, it was clear the Zags were gassed.

The sequence that best illustrated the energy gap came about six minutes into the contest when Baylor’s Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua slapped the ball out of Drew Timme’s hands and the Bears worked the ball ahead to Mitchell. He missed a layup, but Tchamwa Tchatchoua got the offensive rebound and fed Adam Flagler for a 3-pointer.

Gonzaga was practically just standing there for it all.

Few, now 0-2 in title games, gave full credit to Baylor, and didn’t blame his own team’s fatigue.

“Obviously, it’s a tough turnaround, but it was more just the aggressiveness and athleticism of Baylor,” Few said. “They deserved it. Quite frankly, they were terrific.”

Gonzaga briefly pulled within nine early in the second half and saw a glimmer of hope when Tchamwa Tchatchoua joined another Baylor big man, Flo Thamba, on the bench with four fouls.

But Baylor answered with a 9-2 run punctuated by Mark Vital’s rejection of Kispert, then a fast break that led to an easy 3-pointer from Flagler.

After that, it was over. Yes, Gonzaga might have been the season’s most watchable team with its dramatic run at perfection, to say nothing of the shot of the tournament.

But it was Baylor, not Suggs, jumping on top of the scorer’s table and cheering for the fans at the end. And those were the Bears cutting down the nets.

“When the fans are happy, that’s what makes our players happy and proud,” Drew said. “They stuck with us, they’ve been with us through the lean years. They deserve this.”

In 2003, Drew took over a roster with only seven scholarship players and a team staring at years of NCAA probation in the wake of the murder of player Patrick Dennehy by a teammate.

Drew’s introductory news conference was trending after the title game. That day, formal in his coat and tie, he stood behind the lectern and proclaimed: “I did not come to go to the NCAA Tournament. We came to win games at the NCAA Tournament. We came with the chance to win a national championship at Baylor University.”

Eighteen years later, Drew found himself behind a different mic.

He was sitting at a table, answering questions on Zoom in front of a background with a Final Four logo.

He was smiling wide, drenched in sweat, with a cut-down net hanging around his neck.

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