This was the reward for the Florida Gators five returning starters from last year’s squad.

For the second time in as many seasons, they cut down the nets in celebration of a NCAA men’s basketball championship after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 84-75 in front of a sold-out Georgia Dome crowd.

Almost one year to the day they captured the title at the RCA Dome last April, Al Horford, Lee Humphrey, Taurean Green and Corey Brewer all scored in double figures, negating Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden’s double-double performance. Green registered 16 points and Harford poured in 18.

Joakim Noah, who could have left Florida for the NBA after last season, added six points to help make the Gators the first repeat champions since Duke in 1991-92. The victory marked just the seventh time in history a school won a title in consecutive seasons, an accomplishment they celebrated as confetti reigned down at the buzzer.

“I'm so proud of these guys,” coach Billy Donovan said to the Associated Press. "We've had to win different ways and with the expectations, and I think you really have to look at this team, and I'm not saying they are the best team, but you have to look at them and say they are one of the best teams to play this game."

Both Noah and Horford were projected lottery picks last year, but decided to return to defend their crown. Horford poured in a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, stopping Ohio State’s 22 game winning streak.

Florida has now defeated Ohio State in both the football and basketball championship games this year. They are the only school in history to hold both championships simultaneously.

“It feels great. This is what we came back to school for," Brewer told the AP. "This is what we're all about at the University of Florida, winning championships. We're No. 1 again, two in a row, back-to-back. That's what we do."

Unlike in the Final Four matchup against Georgetown, Oden avoided early foul trouble, finishing with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes. But while Oden will probably turn pro later in the spring, he could not help his teammates who shot a paltry 4-23 from three-point range.

Fellow freshman Mike Conley Jr. picked up the slack for Oden throughout the tournament after his former high school teammate had to go the bench after picking up quick fouls. Conley, who scored 15 against Georgetown, did not need to bail out his center this time. He scored 20 points on 7-13 shooting, but his efforts did not prevent Florida from opening up a 13-point first half lead.

“The difference was they made some incredible plays, and we took away what we wanted to take away," OSU coach Thad Matta said to reporters in Atlanta. “They were shooting runners in. When you're playing a great team like Florida and those guys step up and make the plays, there's not a lot you can do. They made some incredible plays on us.”

Seven Gators scored in the first half, helping Florida build a 40-29 halftime lead that could have been 13 points if not for Oden’s emphatic dunk in the final minute. Ohio State actually got within 24-22 with 5:39 left in the first half before Donovan saw his team complete three consecutive three pointers to establish irrevocably momentum.

Humphrey, Brewer and Green each drilled shots from beyond the arch just 1:48 apart to make it 33-22. Overall, Florida shot 10-18 from three-point range to join the likes of UCLA, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Kentucky and Oklahoma State as members of the exclusive eight-member club of repeat champions.

It was the Gators second victory over Ohio State this season, including a 86-60 win in December.