by Tim Martin
Associated Press
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Rowdy Michigan State fans were doused with tear gas, and more than 60 people were arrested after the school’s men’s basketball team lost in the Final Four.
But police said the disturbances, which lasted for several hours into early Sunday _ and resulted in at least five assaults on officers _ were tamer than in earlier years, when the Spartans made similar NCAA tournament runs.
“If you look at where we’d been and where we are (now), we have made considerable progress,” Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon said after the men’s 87-71 loss to North Carolina on Saturday night.
Among things that didn’t happen over the weekend was a sweep of the Spartans in the postseason, as the Michigan State women overcame a 15-point deficit to upset Tennessee 68-64 in their Final Four matchup in Indianapolis on Sunday night.
Thousands of fans took to the streets after Saturday night’s contest ended. Police reported one serious injury _ a possible broken arm suffered by someone in the celebration _ and several minor injuries.
The main centers of activity were downtown, and near a student housing complex bordering the northeast side of campus. The complex, called Cedar Village, has been a problem spot in the past.
Police fired several canisters of tear gas into both areas to scatter clusters of people that at times exceeded 1,000 people.
At least five officers were assaulted, police said. Three officers were struck with bottles. One was hit with ball bearing launched by a rubber band, and another was smacked in the face shield of a riot helmet with a chunk of asphalt.
Police reported 15 fires, all relatively minor. Most were set in trash bins or in the middle of streets. At least one couch was set on fire.
More than 60 people were arrested, according to reports by police Sunday. Among then, at least 52 were charged with disorderly conduct and eight were charged as minors in possession of alcohol. It was not known how many of the arrested people were Michigan State students.