INDIANAPOLIS ? Michigan won its first men's basketball national championship in 37 years on Monday night, beating UConn 69-63 to deny the Huskies a third title in four seasons.

In its game report from Lucas Oil Stadium, The Associated Press said Michigan leaned on defense and free-throw shooting after a poor start from 3-point range, with Elliot Cadeau scoring 19 points and the Wolverines finishing 25 of 28 from the line.

The same result was detailed by NCAA.com, which said Michigan finished 37-3 and claimed the program's first title since 1989 while snapping the Big Ten's men's championship drought dating to 2000.

A live championship recap from CBS Sports noted that UConn entered the night trying to win its third championship in four years but never fully recovered after foul trouble and second-half shooting problems let Michigan control the closing stretch.

The title capped a rapid rebuild under Dusty May and gave Michigan a championship that had eluded even the program's famed Fab Five era.