Basketball On The Internet.

THE Connecticut Huskies today won their fifth men's NCAA Division 1 national championship and their first since 2014, smacking away San Diego State University's best attempts 76-59 in Houston, Tristen Newton leading the way with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double.

The tournament MOP (Most Outstanding Player) Adama Sanogo (17) and Jordan Hawkins (16) also had their way offensively against San Diego State, UConn frustrating the Aztecs around the rim for much of the night.

San Diego State (32-7) trailed by as many 16 and shot just 32.2 per cent. But in their past three matches, the Aztecs trailed overall No.1 Alabama by 9, Creighton by 8 and FAU by 14 in the semifinals — and won them all.

The Aztecs staggered through an 11-minute stretch without a field goal in the first half but to its credit, SDSU made a late charge to cut the deficit to 55-60 with 5:19 to play.

Hawkins then slammed shut the door with a clutch 3-pointer and San Diego State never came closer, UConn simply too tall a challenge.

UConn is only the second No.4 seed to win it all, joining Arizona which accomplished it in 1997.

For San Diego State, it was a case of "so close, yet so far."

In their first Final Four appearance, the Aztecs fell one win short of winning their first title, of becoming the first Mountain West team to win it all and the first No.5 seed to take home the championship.

Keshad Johnson, Lamont Butler — the buzzer-beating hero against FAU — and Darrion Trammell all finished within double figures, but UConn won another championship to become one of only six programs to reach that mark.

Here is BOB CRAVEN's rapidfire summary:

The only comment I have on the men's NCAA title game, which went pretty much as anticipated, is that if I'm SDSU, I'm sad, but easily the best team won out.

If you can't shoot two-pointers, and if you can't shoot three-pointers, and if you can't guard the other guys' shooters very well, and if you can't rebound straight up with the other guy, and if you can't control their bigs on either offence or defence, you will be beaten by at least double digits ... and then some.

NCAA FINAL

UNIVERSITY of CONNECTICUT HUSKIES 76 (Newton 19, Sanogo 17, Hawkins 16; Sanogo, Newton 10 rebs; Jackson Jr 6 assts) d SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AZTECS 59 (Johnson 14, Butler, Trammell 13; Mensah 6 rebs; Butletr 2 assts) in Houston.