2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game

{{Infobox NCAABasketballSingleGame

| name = 2021 NCAA tournament championship game

| type = ncg

| image = NCAA logo.svg

| date = April 5, 2021

| year = 2020–21

| visitor_school = Baylor University

| visitor_name_short = Baylor

| visitor_nickname = Bears

| visitor_record = 27–2

| visitor_conference = Big 12

| visitor_AP = 3

| visitor_coaches = 3

| visitor_coach = Scott Drew

| home_school = Gonzaga University

| home_name_short = Gonzaga

| home_nickname = Bulldogs

| home_record = 31–0

| home_conference = WCC

| home_AP = 1

| home_coaches = 1

| home_coach = Mark Few

| visitor_per1 = 47

| visitor_per2 = 39

| home_per1 = 37

| home_per2 = 33

| arena = Lucas Oil Stadium

| city = Indianapolis, Indiana

| attendance =

| referee = Randy McCall, Bo Boroski, Keith Kimble

| MVP = Jared Butler, Baylor

| odds = Gonzaga by 4.5{{cite web|last=Ptterson|first=Chip|title=Gonzaga vs. Baylor odds: Zags opens as favorite in national championship game after Final Four buzzer-beater|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzagas-jalen-suggs-calmly-took-three-dribbles-then-made-one-of-the-biggest-shots-in-march-madness-history/|work=CBS Sports|date=April 3, 2021|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404071030/https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzagas-jalen-suggs-calmly-took-three-dribbles-then-made-one-of-the-biggest-shots-in-march-madness-history/|url-status=live}}

| anthem = Greater Indianapolis area front line workers and first responders

| US_network = CBS

| ratings = 9.39 (16.9 million viewers)

| US_announcers = Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill and Tracy Wolfson

| previous = 2019

| next = 2022

}}

The 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the final game of the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The Baylor Bears were crowned as the national champion for the 2020–21 season after beating the then-undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs, 86–70. The game was played on April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.{{cite web |title=2021 March Madness: Complete schedule, dates, TV times |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-march-madness-schedule |website=NCAA.com |access-date=March 15, 2021 |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314232256/https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-march-madness-schedule |url-status=live }}

Gonzaga was the first team to enter the national championship game undefeated since Indiana State in 1979.{{cite news|first=Jordan|last=Morey|title=13 ridiculous stats that show off undefeated Gonzaga's historical dominance|date=March 31, 2021|website=NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-03-31/13-ridiculous-stats-show-undefeated-gonzagas-historical-dominance|access-date=April 1, 2021|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401045037/https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-03-31/13-ridiculous-stats-show-undefeated-gonzagas-historical-dominance|url-status=live}} Baylor became the second consecutive first-time NCAA champions following Virginia in 2019 (no tournament was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Participants

The championship game matched Baylor with Gonzaga. It was the sixth meeting between the two teams; Gonzaga entered the game leading the all-time series 5–0, with the last meeting resulting in an 83–71 win for Gonzaga in the second round of the 2019 NCAA tournament on March 23, 2019.{{cite web |title=2020–21 Baylor Bears Men's Basketball Media Almanac |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/baylorbears.com/documents/2020/11/21/BU_MBB_Media_Almanac_20_21_Section05_History.pdf |work=Baylor University Athletics |access-date=April 4, 2021 |pages=98 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326235750/https://s3.amazonaws.com/baylorbears.com/documents/2020/11/21/BU_MBB_Media_Almanac_20_21_Section05_History.pdf |url-status=live }} This was the first championship game since 2005 to feature the top two overall seeds in the tournament.{{cite web |title=Gonzaga vs. Baylor for the NCAA Tournament championship is the perfect way to end an imperfect season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzaga-vs-baylor-for-the-ncaa-tournament-championship-is-the-perfect-way-to-end-an-imperfect-season/ |work=CBS Sports |date=April 4, 2021 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405103839/https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzaga-vs-baylor-for-the-ncaa-tournament-championship-is-the-perfect-way-to-end-an-imperfect-season/ |url-status=live }}

This was the second consecutive championship game where both teams were playing for their programs' first NCAA title.{{cite web |last1=Mather |first1=Victor |title=N.C.A.A. Men's Final Preview: New Faces and a Slow Pace |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/sports/ncaa-preview-virginia-texas-tech.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 10, 2023 |date=April 8, 2019 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125121826/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/sports/ncaa-preview-virginia-texas-tech.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Gonzaga vs. Baylor odds: 2021 National Championship game picks, March Madness predictions from proven model |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzaga-vs-baylor-odds-2021-national-championship-game-picks-march-madness-predictions-from-proven-model/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=March 10, 2023 |language=en |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406045307/https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzaga-vs-baylor-odds-2021-national-championship-game-picks-march-madness-predictions-from-proven-model/ |url-status=live }} It was also the first championship game to feature two private schools since Duke defeated Butler in 2010.

=Baylor Bears=

Baylor, led by 18th-year head coach Scott Drew, finished the regular season with a record of 21–1, including wins over seven ranked teams.{{cite web |title=2020–21 Baylor Bears Schedule |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/239 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330151245/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/239 |url-status=live }} The Bears posted a 13–1 conference record, earning them the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 tournament,{{cite web |title=Seeds Set for Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship |url=https://big12sports.com/news/2021/3/7/seeds-set-for-big-12-mens-basketball-championship.aspx |work=Big 12 Conference |date=March 7, 2021 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308091957/https://big12sports.com/news/2021/3/7/seeds-set-for-big-12-mens-basketball-championship.aspx |url-status=live }} where they defeated No. 9 seed Kansas State in the quarterfinals before falling to No. 5 seed Oklahoma State in the semi-finals.{{cite web |title=Baylor survives Big 12 Tournament scare against Kansas State 74–68 |url=https://www.kxxv.com/sports/baylor-bears/baylor-survives-big-12-tournament-scare-against-kansas-state-74-68 |work=KXXV |access-date=April 3, 2021 |date=March 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421150838/https://www.kxxv.com/sports/baylor-bears/baylor-survives-big-12-tournament-scare-against-kansas-state-74-68 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=OK St. stuns Baylor, nears 'vision' of Big 12 title |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31054479/oklahoma-state-stuns-baylor-nears-vision-big-12-tournament-title |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 3, 2021 |date=March 13, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316232105/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31054479/oklahoma-state-stuns-baylor-nears-vision-big-12-tournament-title |url-status=live }} They were awarded an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and received the No. 1 seed in the South Regional.{{cite web |title=MBB Earns NCAA Tournament No. 1 Seed |url=https://baylorbears.com/news/2021/3/14/mens-basketball-mbb-earns-ncaa-tournament-no-1-seed.aspx |work=Baylor University Athletics |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210221/https://baylorbears.com/news/2021/3/14/mens-basketball-mbb-earns-ncaa-tournament-no-1-seed.aspx |url-status=live }} In the tournament, they defeated No. 16 seed Hartford and No. 9 seed Wisconsin to reach their fifth Sweet Sixteen.{{cite web |title=Baylor finds its touch, rolls to 79–55 victory over Hartford |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401310912 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321180756/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401310912 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Potrykus |first1=Jeff |title=Badgers ousted from NCAA Tournament as Bears take advantage of UW's first-half mistakes |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2021/03/21/wisconsin-vs-baylor-second-round-ncaa-basketball-tournament/4789553001/ |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411190710/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2021/03/21/wisconsin-vs-baylor-second-round-ncaa-basketball-tournament/4789553001/ |url-status=live }} The Bears then defeated No. 5 seed Villanova and No. 3 seed Arkansas to win the South Regional and reach their third Final Four.{{cite web |last1=Woods |first1=David |title=Not this time — but for a program like Villanova, there always seems to be a next time |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2021/03/27/ncaa-tournament-villanova-baylor-score-march-madness-sweet-16-jay-wright/7033847002/ |work=The Indianapolis Star |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210219/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2021/03/27/ncaa-tournament-villanova-baylor-score-march-madness-sweet-16-jay-wright/7033847002/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Bears in first Final Four since 1950 after holding off Razorbacks |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/baylor-vs-arkansas-score-takeaways-bears-in-first-final-four-since-1950-after-holding-off-razorbacks/live/ |work=CBS Sports |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510084029/https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/baylor-vs-arkansas-score-takeaways-bears-in-first-final-four-since-1950-after-holding-off-razorbacks/live/ |url-status=live }}

In the Final Four, Baylor soundly defeated No. 2 seed Houston, champions of the Midwest Regional, by a score of 78–59 to reach their second national title game;{{cite web |last1=Horner |first1=Scott |title=Baylor earns a spot in its first March Madness national championship game |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/2021/04/03/baylor-basketball-vs-houston-final-four-matchup-goes-bears/7078839002/ |work=The Indianapolis Star |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404091834/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/2021/04/03/baylor-basketball-vs-houston-final-four-matchup-goes-bears/7078839002/ |url-status=live }} they entered seeking their first championship.{{cite magazine |last1=Dellenger |first1=Ross |title=Baylor Unleashes Full Fury on Houston in Statement Rout |url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/04/04/baylor-dominates-houston-final-four-jared-butler |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 3, 2021 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404004004/https://www.si.com/college/2021/04/04/baylor-dominates-houston-final-four-jared-butler |url-status=live }}

=Gonzaga Bulldogs=

Gonzaga, led by 22nd-year head coach Mark Few, finished the regular season with a perfect record of 24–0, including wins over four ranked teams.{{cite web |title=2020–21 Gonzaga Bulldogs Schedule |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/2250 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330215229/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/2250 |url-status=live }} The Bulldogs posted a 15–0 conference record, earning them the No. 1 seed in the West Coast tournament,{{cite web |title=No. 1/1 MBB Faces Saint Mary's in WCC Tournament Semifinals |url=https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/7/mens-basketball-no-1-1-mbb-faces-saint-marys-in-wcc-tournament-semifinals.aspx |work=Gonzaga University Athletics |date=March 7, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312112242/https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/7/mens-basketball-no-1-1-mbb-faces-saint-marys-in-wcc-tournament-semifinals.aspx |url-status=live }} where they defeated No. 4 seed Saint Mary's and No. 2 seed BYU to win their 19th conference tournament championship.{{cite web |title=No. 1 Gonzaga blows out Saint Mary's 78–55 in WCC semifinals |url=https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/8/mens-basketball-no-1-gonzaga-blows-out-saint-marys-78-55-in-wcc-semifinals.aspx |work=Gonzaga University Athletics |date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210213/https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/8/mens-basketball-no-1-gonzaga-blows-out-saint-marys-78-55-in-wcc-semifinals.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=No. 1 Gonzaga rallies to beat BYU 88–78 in WCC title game |url=https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/9/mens-basketball-no-1-gonzaga-rallies-to-beat-byu-88-78-in-wcc-title-game.aspx |website=Gonzaga University Athletics |date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210220/https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/9/mens-basketball-no-1-gonzaga-rallies-to-beat-byu-88-78-in-wcc-title-game.aspx |url-status=live }} They received the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and were placed in the West Regional.{{cite web |title=Zags Open with Either Appalachian State or Norfolk State |url=https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/14/mens-basketball-zags-open-with-either-appalachian-state-or-norfolk-state.aspx |website=Gonzaga University Athletics |date=March 14, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210213/https://gozags.com/news/2021/3/14/mens-basketball-zags-open-with-either-appalachian-state-or-norfolk-state.aspx |url-status=live }} In the tournament, they defeated No. 16 seed Norfolk State and No. 8 seed Oklahoma to advance to their 11th Sweet Sixteen.{{cite web |title=No. 1 Gonzaga opens NCAA Tournament with big win over Norfolk State |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/mar/20/updates-no-1-gonzaga-plays-norfolk-state-in-ncaa-t/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320150112/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/mar/20/updates-no-1-gonzaga-plays-norfolk-state-in-ncaa-t/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Booth |first1=Tim |title=Drew Timme leads No. 1 seed Gonzaga past Oklahoma at men's NCAA Tournament |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/collegebasketball/2021/03/gonzaga-vs-oklahoma-mens-basketball-live-updates-ncaa-tournament-2021-time-tv-channel-how-to-watch-live-stream-online.html |work=Oregon Live |access-date=April 4, 2021 |date=March 22, 2021 |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322225142/https://www.oregonlive.com/collegebasketball/2021/03/gonzaga-vs-oklahoma-mens-basketball-live-updates-ncaa-tournament-2021-time-tv-channel-how-to-watch-live-stream-online.html |url-status=live }} Gonzaga then faced and defeated No. 5 seed Creighton and No. 6 seed USC to move to the Final Four for the second time.{{cite news |last1=Giambalvo |first1=Emily |title=Gonzaga moves three wins from perfection with a masterful offensive show vs. Creighton |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/28/gonzaga-routs-creighton-sweet-16/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=March 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328205137/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/28/gonzaga-routs-creighton-sweet-16/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=USC's Final Four dreams shattered in Elite Eight loss to top-seeded Gonzaga |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2021-03-30/usc-gonzaga-ncaa-tournament-live-updates-score-odds-analysis |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 4, 2021 |date=March 30, 2021 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401144018/https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2021-03-30/usc-gonzaga-ncaa-tournament-live-updates-score-odds-analysis |url-status=live }}

In the Final Four, Gonzaga was matched up with No. 11 seed UCLA, the champions of the East Regional.{{cite web |last1=Elassar |first1=Alaa |last2=Lev |first2=Jacob |last3=Dotson |first3=Kevin |title=Gonzaga defeats UCLA with buzzer beater and will face Baylor in NCAA men's basketball title game |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/03/sport/baylor-v-houston-final-four-game-results/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=April 4, 2021 |date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404000606/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/03/sport/baylor-v-houston-final-four-game-results/index.html |url-status=live }} A 3-point buzzer beater in overtime by Jalen Suggs won the game for the Bulldogs and gave Gonzaga their second national championship berth in program history; they entered seeking their first national title and the first unbeaten season in NCAA Division I men's basketball since Indiana in 1976.

Starting lineups

style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Baylor Bears\|border=2\|color=white}};" \|Baylor	colspan="2" \| Position	style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Gonzaga Bulldogs\|border=2\|color=white}}"\|Gonzaga
class="wikitable"
Flo Thamba	colspan=2 style="text-align:center"\|F	† Corey Kispert
MaCio Teague	style="text-align:center"\|G	style="text-align:center"\|F	Drew Timme
Davion Mitchell	colspan=2 style="text-align:center"\|G	Jalen Suggs
† Jared Butler	colspan=2 style="text-align:center"\|G	Andrew Nembhard
Mark Vital	colspan=2 style="text-align:center"\|G	Joël Ayayi
colspan="5" align=center\| † {{small\|2021 Consensus First Team All-American}}

{{small|Source}}{{cite web |title=Baylor vs. Gonzaga Box Score (Men), April 5, 2021 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2021-04-05-21-gonzaga.html |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=29 March 2023}}

Game summary

After winning the jump ball, Baylor controlled much of the first half. The Bears jumped out to an early 9–0 lead with multiple baskets each from Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler before Gonzaga's Andrew Nembhard scored a free throw. Gonzaga's first field goal came nearly five minutes into the game, with Corey Kispert's three-pointer that narrowed the lead back to nine, after a Mitchell jumper pushed the lead to double digits. A layup by Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and a three-pointer by Butler pushed the lead to 12 points; shortly thereafter, a Drew Timme layup and a pair of Adam Flagler free throws kept the margin where it was, though it was extended to 15 within the next minute. Over the following several minutes, Baylor was able to take advantage of excellent offensive rebounding and Gonzaga turnovers to push the lead to 19, its highest point in the half and the largest deficit Gonzaga had faced all season.{{cite web |title=Baylor routs Gonzaga as Bears win first national title, end Zags' perfect season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-championship-2021-score-baylor-routs-gonzaga-as-bears-win-first-national-title-end-zags-perfect-season/live/ |work=CBS Sports |access-date=April 6, 2021 |date=April 6, 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406034055/https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-championship-2021-score-baylor-routs-gonzaga-as-bears-win-first-national-title-end-zags-perfect-season/live/ |url-status=live }} During the second part of the opening half, the game was much more even; Gonzaga was able to gradually chip away at the lead, with a last-second layup at the end of the half cutting the deficit to 10 at the break.{{cite web |title=ESPN Play-by-Play – Baylor vs. Gonzaga – April 5, 2021 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/playbyplay?gameId=401310865 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 5, 2021 |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210249/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/playbyplay?gameId=401310865 |url-status=live }}

The second half started similarly to the first, though both teams came out scoring this time. The Bears increased their lead to 15 within the first two minutes, and Gonzaga again narrowed it to single digits momentarily with 14:30 to play. The teams traded scores for the next minute and a half, getting the score to 62–51 in favor of the Bears, before Baylor went on an 11–1 run, pushing the score to a game-high 20 points. Both teams began to see foul trouble affect them, as Baylor's Flo Thamba fouled out with 8:40 to play and Gonzaga's Timme was temporarily benched after accumulating four fouls shortly before. Baylor controlled the ball well throughout the half, committing their first second-half turnover with only eight minutes to play. The Bears kept the lead between 15 and 20 as the teams alternated scores over the remainder of the game. With around a minute to play, both teams substituted out most of their starters, and Baylor was able to run the remainder of the clock out to win their first national championship.{{cite web |title=Baylor overwhelms Gonzaga to win NCAA title |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31201222/baylor-overwhelms-gonzaga-ends-bulldogs-perfect-season-win-ncaa-men-basketball-championship |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 5, 2021 |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406034229/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31201222/baylor-overwhelms-gonzaga-ends-bulldogs-perfect-season-win-ncaa-men-basketball-championship |url-status=live }}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #e3e3e3

| date = April 5, 2021

| time = 9:20 p.m. EDT

| report = [https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/game/701?cid=mml2021_editorial_gamecenter Report]

| team1 = #S1 Baylor Bears

| score1 = 86

| team2 = #W1 Gonzaga Bulldogs

| score2 = 70

| H1 = 47–37

| H2 = 39–33

| points1 = Jared Butler - 22

| rebounds1 = Mark Vital - 11

| assist1 = Jared Butler - 7

| points2 = Jalen Suggs - 22

| rebounds2 = Drew Timme - 5

| assist2 = Andrew Nembhard - 4

| place = Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

| attendance =

| referee = Randy McCall, Bo Boroski, Keith Kimble

| TV = CBS

}}

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{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 32 | nat = | name = Zach Loveday | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 23 | nat = | name = Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua | p = 6 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 32 | nat = | name = Jordan Turner | link = Jordan Turner (basketball) | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 4 | nat = | name = LJ Cryer | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 10 | nat = | name = Adam Flagler | p = 13 | r = 2 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 24 | nat = | name = Matthew Mayer | p = 2 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 13 | nat = | name = Jackson Moffatt | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 35 | nat = | name = Mark Paterson | link = Mark Paterson (basketball) | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

| style="vertical-align:top; align:center; width:33%;"|

{| style="width:100%;"

style="width=50%;" |{{Basketball kit

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| title = Baylor{{cite web |title=Baylor vs. Gonzaga Box Score (Men) |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2021-04-05-21-gonzaga.html |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=March 10, 2023 |language=en |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122235217/https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2021-04-05-21-gonzaga.html |url-status=live }}

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Baylor	rowspan=2\|Statistics	Gonzaga
class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; margin:auto;" align=center
style="background:#{{CollegePrimaryHex\|Baylor Bears}};"\|	style="background:#{{CollegePrimaryHex\|Gonzaga Bulldogs}};"\|
30/67 (45%)	Field goals	25/49 (51%)
10/23 (44%)	3-pt. field goals	5/17 (29%)
16/18 (89%)	Free throws	15/21 (71%)
16	Offensive rebounds	5
22	Defensive rebounds	17
38	Total rebounds	22
18	Assists	16
9	Turnovers	14
8	Steals	4
5	Blocks	3
19	Fouls	17

| style="vertical-align:top; align:left; width:33%;"|

{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = #{{CollegePrimaryHex|Gonzaga Bulldogs}}}}

{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 2 | nat = | name = Drew Timme | p = 12 | r = 5 | a = 3 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 24 | nat = | name = Corey Kispert | p = 12 | r = 3 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 1 | nat = | name = Jalen Suggs | p = 22 | r = 1 | a = 3 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 3 | nat = | name = Andrew Nembhard | p = 9 | r = 4 | a = 4 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 11 | nat = | name = Joël Ayayi | p = 8 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 33 | nat = | name = Ben Gregg | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = F | no = 22 | nat = | name = Anton Watson | p = 4 | r = 0 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 55 | nat = | name = Dominick Harris | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 0 | nat = | name = Julian Strawther | p = 3 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 4 | nat = | name = Aaron Cook Jr. | p = 0 | r = 2 | a = 2 }}

Media coverage

The championship game was televised in the United States by CBS. Jim Nantz provided play-by-play, while Bill Raftery and Grant Hill provided color commentary. Tracy Wolfson served as the sideline reporter.{{cite web |title=Turner Sports and CBS Sports announce 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship commentator teams |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-03-11/turner-sports-and-cbs-sports-announce-2021-ncaa-division-i-mens-basketball |work=NCAA.com |date=March 11, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2021 |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312142901/https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-03-11/turner-sports-and-cbs-sports-announce-2021-ncaa-division-i-mens-basketball |url-status=live }}

The broadcast was the least-watched national championship ever shown on broadcast television, as it pulled in 16.92 million viewers on CBS for an average rating of 9.4. This marked a 14% viewership decline from the last men's national championship broadcast, in 2019 between Virginia and Texas Tech.{{cite web |title=Nearly 17 million watch Baylor bully Bulldogs |url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/04/march-madness-ratings-national-championship-baylor-gonzaga/ |website=Sports Media Watch |access-date=March 10, 2023 |date=April 7, 2021}}

Aftermath

File:Jared Butler (cropped).jpg of Baylor was named the tournament's MOP]]

The win gave Baylor their first national championship in school history, and denied Gonzaga their first title and the first NCAA Division I men's basketball perfect season since Indiana in 1976.{{cite web |last=Li |first=David K. |title=Baylor denies Gonzaga's bid for perfection, wins first men's basketball championship |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/baylor-denies-gonzaga-s-bid-perfection-wins-school-s-first-n1263060 |work=NBC News |access-date=April 6, 2021 |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406032830/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/baylor-denies-gonzaga-s-bid-perfection-wins-school-s-first-n1263060 |url-status=live }} The loss was Gonzaga's first and only of the season, as they ended the year with a 31–1 record,{{cite web |title=2020–21 Men's Basketball Schedule |url=https://gozags.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2020-21 |work=Gonzaga University Athletics |access-date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426171125/https://gozags.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2020-21 |url-status=live }} while Baylor improved to 28–2 with the victory.{{cite web |title=2020–21 Baylor Bears Men's Basketball Schedule |url=https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2020-21 |work=Baylor University Athletics |access-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210305/https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2020-21 |url-status=live }} After the game, Baylor coach Scott Drew was presented with the national championship trophy, and Bears guard Jared Butler was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament.{{cite web|title=Baylor dominates to win first national title, denies Gonzaga perfection|url=https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/baylor-dominates-win-first-national-title-denies-gonzaga-perfection?permalink=97d04c69-1db5-40ef-be50-4ee599225501|website=NCAA.com|date=April 5, 2021|access-date=April 6, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414025609/https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/baylor-dominates-win-first-national-title-denies-gonzaga-perfection?permalink=97d04c69-1db5-40ef-be50-4ee599225501 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 }} Baylor's win was widely considered an upset, with Gonzaga considered a "massive favorite" to win the title by ESPN and Yahoo!'s platforms.{{cite web |last1=Blinder |first1=Alan |title=Baylor Romps Past Gonzaga for National Title |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/04/05/sports/gonzaga-baylor-live-score |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 6, 2021 |date=April 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405234945/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/04/05/sports/gonzaga-baylor-live-score |url-status=live }} Gonzaga never led during the game, and their 70 points were the fewest they had scored all season; the Bulldogs entered the championship averaging 91.6 points per game, the best in the nation.{{cite web |title=Baylor beatdown: Bears win title, hang 86–70 loss on Gonzaga |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401310865 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 6, 2021 |language=en |date=April 6, 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406034742/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401310865 |url-status=live }} In addition, this was also Baylor's first win over Gonzaga in program history; they were 0–5 in previous meetings. Baylor also became the first team from the state of Texas to win the national championship since Texas Western in 1966.{{cite web |last1=Bender |first1=Bill |title=Baylor ends Gonzaga's perfect season with a Texas-sized storybook finish |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/ncaa-basketball/news/baylor-gonzaga-national-championship/1v1youxsbczu1pcfuvpvtl8e6 |website=Sporting News |access-date=March 10, 2023 |language=en |date=April 6, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929151902/https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/ncaa-basketball/news/baylor-gonzaga-national-championship/1v1youxsbczu1pcfuvpvtl8e6 |url-status=live }}