A BITTER END BRUINS' GRITTY MARCH TO TITLE RUNS OUT OF GAS.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

INDIANAPOLIS - There would be no new banner, no emotional victory for Coach, no stirring comeback to add to UCLA basketball lore.

Just a poorly timed humbling. Just a black eye when the Bruins were certain everything was going so well. A final loss that cut deep, that will haunt.

Florida earned its first NCAA basketball title Monday night, earned it with a decisive 73-57 victory over UCLA at the RCA Dome, earned it by clearly being the superior team.

The Bruins had been on such a roll, had won 12 consecutive games, had finely honed that defense, had all that championship history on their side.

And it all meant little against a Florida team that was too versatile, too balanced, too skilled, too ready to seize the moment.

The Gators made the extra pass that too often shredded UCLA's prized defense. UCLA's great anchor was lost and the Bruins drifted, unable to claim their own game.

Florida found the open man on the perimeter. Had too many skilled big men inside. Had a defense that on this night was the best on the floor.

The news that legendary Bruins coach John Wooden had been hospitalized Sunday night - UCLA said it was non-life-threatening and that he is expected to be released within two days - came shortly before the game.

He reportedly watched Monday's championship game with family from his hospital bed.

Little he saw could have lifted his spirits. The Bruins fell behind by double figures early in the first half. The Gators led by 11 at the break, pushed their lead to 20 early in the second half and all but cruised to their championship.

In truth, the Gators made it look easy. They opened the season with 17 consecutive victories and closed with 11 straight.

A young UCLA team could not respond, could not find its game when it needed it most.

``We had a great year,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland said. ``We came up a national championship game short.

``My message to the team is that our goal is to get back here again next year and win it.''

Sophomore guards Aaron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar fought tears in the postgame press conference. It was a great season, a 32-7 season, but ended so close to the ultimate goal.

Championships are what count at UCLA. Anything else can't help but feel like disappointment. Eleven banners hang at Pauley Pavilion. And these Bruins were one victory away from adding their own.

``It hurts a lot,'' guard Darren Collison said. ``We're going to remember this feeling and it's going to stay in the back of our heads until we come back here. We'll definitely be back.''

Young teams usually think that, of course. The great ride seems almost easy the first time, but too often is a journey unrepeated. In the past 10 years, only Kentucky has been a repeat finalist.

Still, despite the loss of senior starters Cedric Bozeman and Ryan Hollins, seven of the other nine players in Howland's rotation were freshmen or sophomores.

And certainly there will be better games from Afflalo and Luc Mbah a Moute.

UCLA's second- and fourth-leading scorers failed to connect for their first field goal until the game was almost 30 minutes old. Afflalo missed his first five shots, Mbah a Moute his first six.

An offense that often struggled anyway, had too little without them.

UCLA's defense was the one that received all the credit at the Final Four, particularly after shutting down LSU in its semifinal game, but it was the Florida defense that controlled the game.

Tournament MVP Joakim Noah was nearly unstoppable. He finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots, three assists and about a dozen intimidated shots.

Noah had plenty of help inside, too. Center Al Horford added 14 points and seven rebounds. Forward Corey Brewer added 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

``They took us out of our game, just like we did to LSU,'' Hollins said. ``They were unbelievable tonight. They're national champions. They played like it, deserved it.''

Florida excelled at making the extra pass, at finding the open man whenever UCLA would double down under the basket.

It was a blow to the heart of a UCLA team that was built around a marvelous defense. But early in the first half, it was clear the Bruins had lost their defensive mojo, had become frustrated, looked uncertain and sometimes confused.

The Bruins caused only six turnovers, came up with only three steals. They could never put their stamp on the game, never make it feel like their own.

And the Gators weren't even running. Their vaunted fastbreak was never really a factor, but their half-court game tore UCLA apart.

UCLA had opened the second half against LSU with a flurry, had ended any thoughts Saturday of a semifinal comeback.

But this time it was Florida maximizing its lead with an explosive start to the second half. Lee Humphrey made a pair of 3-pointers and suddenly UCLA was down by 17. The Bruins would never mount a real charge, never cut the lead to less than 12.

``I think they laid down a little bit once we took that lead and held onto it,'' Horford said.

Florida was the better team Monday, and UCLA knew it and it hurt.

The Bruins wanted another banner, wanted to add their own piece to UCLA's storied basketball tradition, wanted everyone to know the program had returned all the way to the top.

They finished one game short. One game they will remember.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) UCLA coach Ben Howland walks off the court with guard Jordan Farmer after the Bruins' loss to Florida.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

(2) UCLA players watch from the sidelines in the second half of the NCAA championship game against Florida on Monday night in Indianapolis.

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

(3) Former UCLA and NBA greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, and Bill Walton await the opening tip.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

(4) A UCLA fan at Westwood Brewery pretty much sums up the sentiments of the evening for Bruins backers.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News