With every basket, every glare, every pump of his fist, Mateen Cleaves carried Michigan State. So, when it came time to carry away the championship trophy, Cleaves wasn't about to give it up -- even with a crutch under each arm.

"He has the heart of a lion," said his coach, Tom Izzo.

Cleaves scored 18 points in the NCAA men's basketball championship against Florida before tumbling to the court with a grotesquely sprained ankle. After a quick tape job, he returned to play 11 more minutes in his college finale, the Spartans' leader right to the end -- even though he was barely able to make it up and down the court.

"It was a lot of pain," Cleaves said. "I had to suck it up and play on it."

Later, he had the perfect painkiller.

Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he hobbled on crutches and his Michigan State teammates cut down the nets after their 89-76 victory Monday night.

They put one of the nets around his neck, and Cleaves then helped carry off the trophy.

The championship came 21 years after Magic Johnson led the Spartans to their first national title. And Magic was on hand to see this one, too.

"I knew that foot wouldn't keep him down," said Johnson, adorned in a green sweatshirt of his alma mater but merely a fan these days.

The victory over Florida certainly wasn't a one-man show.

Morris Peterson finished with 21 points and A.J. Granger had 19. Cleaves was 7-for-11 from the field -- including 3-for-4 from outside the three-point arc -- even though he didn't take a shot after his injury.

David Thomas, a junior swingman from Brampton, Ont., played four minutes with one rebound and one assist.

Many thought Cleaves would be playing in the NBA this year, following Michigan State's loss to Duke in the Final Four last season.

Instead, he returned for his senior season, delaying the inevitable millions for the chance to win a championship for his school. Even when he missed the first 13 games with a broken right foot, he never second-guessed his decision to come back to the Spartans.

"This is a wonderful message for all the kids out there," said Frances Cleaves, his mother. "Stay in school, stick to your goals, work hard. That will make you a winner."

Cleaves was impressive in the first half, breaking Florida's press with his passing and ballhandling as Michigan State built a 43-32 lead. The margin had been cut to 50-44 when he rolled his right ankle on a drive to the basket with 16:18 to play.

Mike Chappell, taking Cleaves's spot on the floor, immediately hit a three-pointer, prompting Izzo to take such a vigorous punch at the air that he nearly lost his jacket. Michigan State was up 58-50 by the time the point guard returned 4:29 later.

"I think it took a little bit out of Florida seeing him come back," Chappell said.

Even though Cleaves didn't score another point, he helped the Spartans widen the lead against the younger, less experienced Gators.

"Mateen Cleaves is a great point guard. He showed it tonight," said Florida's Mike Miller. "Senior leader, been through a lot of things. I think he did a good job of running his team and he knocked down shots."

The Spartans (32-7) were the only top-seeded team to reach the Final Four.

Udonis Haslem had a season-high 27 points for the fifth-seeded Gators (29-9), while Brent Wright added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Florida, making its first appearance in a championship game, had seven freshmen and sophomores in its 10-man rotation.

"Not too many freshmen get to play in a national championship game," said Kenyan Weaks, Florida's only senior.

"This is a great experience for them. I hope they learn from it. Hopefully, they can be back here next year."