CINDERELLA TURNS INTO GATOR BAIT FLORIDA PUTS AWAY UNDERDOG GEORGE MASON FLORIDA 73, GEO. MASON 58.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS - Their roles had been cast early on. There wasn't much point in discussing who would play which part.

George Mason was America's team, the mid-major that could, with a catchy theme song and legions of yellow-and-green clad fans who probably never dreamed their commuter school from the suburbs of Northern Virginia would ever play on a stage so grand.

Florida, through no fault of its own, was an easy choice as the villain. The big football school intent on conquering yet another sport and repealing the rather endearing Patriot Act George Mason has put on these past three weeks.

On this night, the Gators refused to be typecast.

The Gators outshot one of the the longest shots ever to reach the Final Four, connecting on nearly 50 percent of their 3-point shots on their way to a 73-58 victory Saturday night in the RCA Dome.

``I just kept thinking, let's kiss Cinderella, put her back in the carriage and send her home,'' Florida sophomore Corey Brewer said.

Florida advances to its second national championship game in seven years. The Gators will play Monday night against UCLA, a 59-45 winner over LSU in Saturday's other national semifinal.

During the tournament, George Mason had lived a lot like its theme song, Bon Jovi's ``Living on a Prayer,'' shooting 42 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Saturday night, the song, and their sharp long-distance shooting, finally played out.

The Patriots made just 2 of 12 shots from behind the 3-point arc. Florida made 12 of 25.

The most dangerous of all their shooters on Saturday, was baby-faced sharp-shooter Lee Humphrey, who hit six 3s, including 5 of 7 in the decisive second half and tied Brewer for game-high honors with 19 points.

This, from a kid who'd spent most of Friday's media session holding microphones for reporters crowding around Florida's star sophomore, 6- foot-11 forward Joakim Noah.

Coming into the Final Four, the most salient detail in Humphrey's biography was a freak bicycle accident in January that left him with a separated shoulder, forcing him to miss two games.

Saturday night, Humphrey, who grew up shooting late at night with his father in the gym at Maryville (Tenn.) Middle School, added another entry in that biography.

``I've never been a guy who counted how many shots I was taking,'' he said. I would just shoot until it wasn't fun anymore.''

Despite some early jitters, George Mason trailed only 31-26 at the half behind nine points from senior guard Tony Skinn.

Florida (32-6) came out blazing in the second half, quickly taking the steam out of the Patriots' raucous crowd.

Humphrey connected on three 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the second half, stretching the lead to 40-28.

George Mason (27-8), the only small-conference school to reach the Final Four since the field expanded to 64 teams, seemed stunned.

The Patriots band plays ``Living on a Prayer'' twice a game, right before tip-off, and with about seven or eight minutes to go in the second half.

Before the game, it sounded like everyone in the cavernous arena joined in. But in the final number, with George Mason trailing by 13 with 7 minutes, 17 seconds remaining, those prayers seemed a bit more desperate.

George Mason had one more rally left in it. Folarin Campbell cut the lead down to 64-55 on a 3-pointer with 4:48 left. But the Gators didn't allow them many more chances.

Florida had as many offensive rebounds (16) as George Mason had defensive rebounds. In the game, they out-rebounded the Patriots 40-27.

On their penultimate possession, the Gators grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds, eating over two minutes off the clock.

By the time George Mason finally got the ball back with 48 seconds remaining, all coach Jim Larranaga could do was take his five starters out and give the crowd a chance to send them off with a final ovation.

``I think we've done something tremendous for college basketball, for the teams that are out there that watched us play,'' said Skinn, who finished with 13 points. ``You know, just to show them that all you need is opportunity and a chance.''

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Florida's Corey Brewer, left, and Lee Humphrey celebrate their NCAA Final Four semifinal win over George Mason.

Patrick

(2) Florida's Al Horford, left, and Joakim Noah, right, double team George Mason's Jai Lewis in the second half of the Gators' NCAA Final Four semifinal victory.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

(3) George Mason's Jai Lewis, left, Charles Makings, center, and Tony Skinn walk off the court following the Patriots' loss to Florida.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Box:

TRIUMPH FROM THE ARC