Syracuse celebrate their victory More photos from the final

Anthony scored 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead the young Syracuse team and coach Jim Boeheim to their first national championship.

Gerry McNamara added 18 points on six first-half three-pointers as the Orangemen produced the best offensive opening half in NCAA championship game history.

Billy Edelin scored 12 points for Syracuse with Kueth Duany adding 11.

HAVE YOUR SAY The Syracuse v Kansas final will go down as one of the all-time great Final Four games, and quite possibly as the greatest final of all time From Levi Ramsey, Amherst, MA Join the debate

Nick Collison led the more experienced Kansas side with 19 points and 21 rebounds while Jeff Graves had 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Keith Langford also had 19 points but he fouled out with 5:36 remaining.

Syracuse led by 18 points at one stage in the first half but had to stave off a spirited fightback by the Jayhawks.

Anthony was given the award for Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

"I'm tremendously happy," Boeheim said. "But I'm really more happy for the players and for our fans.

Carmelo Anthony was the tournament MVP

"It's a tribute to these guys, they wouldn't give up. I'm really proud of them. "Give Kansas an unbelievable amount of credit. It's a tribute to (coach) Roy Williams the way they kept coming back."

Williams now inherits the dubious distinction of being the coach with the most NCAA Tournament victories (34) without a title but was upbeat about his team's performance.

"I'm extremely proud of my team," he said. "I've never been one to like moral victories, and I don't like this one.