CHAMPIONSHIP GAME REPORT

First Half

Michigan State: 43

Florida: 32

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What happened: All the talk about Michigan State’s huge advantage in experience proved accurate when Florida, whether because of nerves or not, missed three layups and another shot from near the basket. Two of the three were by freshman Donnell Harvey. But all of the talk about the Gators’ huge advantage in depth was neutralized when the Spartans built an early double-digit advantage. That allowed them to sneak in some extra rest for the starters--with the game six minutes old and the lead at six, three reserves were in.

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What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Michigan State’s 31-20 lead--and the several 11-point margins that followed--was the largest deficit of the tournament to that point for Florida.

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Winning numbers: Michigan State’s Mateen Cleaves, a streak shooter, made all three of his three-point shots and five of seven shots overall, after going one of seven in the semifinals.

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Wrong numbers: Florida had twice as many turnovers (eight) as assists.

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Leading scorers: Cleaves 13. Florida’s Udonis Haslem 13.

Second Half

ECOND HALF

Michigan State: 89

Florida: 76

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What happened: Cleaves got hurt, and Florida felt pain. Michigan State lost its emotional leader to a sprained ankle with 16:18 remaining but not its composure. The Spartans led by six when he went to the locker room. They led by nine when he went to check in.

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What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo giving Florida’s Teddy Dupay an earful for what he felt was a cheap shot on a driving-to-the-basket Cleaves that knocked him out of the game. On an all-around bad night--two points and one assist in 15 minutes--Dupay didn’t get a shot off after Cleaves’ injury.

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Winning numbers: Morris Peterson had a big second half, again. He had 15 of his team-high 21 in the final 20 minutes, meaning that 75 of his 105 points in the six-game run to the championship came in the second half.

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Wrong numbers: Florida’s Donnell Harvey missed five of six shots in the second half and finished three for 11.

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Leading scorers: Peterson 15, Haslem 14.