Thousands mobbed East Lansing streets early Saturday to revel in the MSU men's basketball team's Sweet 16 victory.
More than 2,000 packed Cedar Village - a traditional postgame stomping ground for fans - as about 1,000 more turned downtown East Lansing into a late night circus to cheer the Spartans' 60-58 victory over University of Maryland in the South Regional semifinals.
By night's end, police arrested 18 people -15 of them were MSU students - for disorderly conduct. All were released from custody by early Sunday.
"My friend just got arrested for indecent exposure," said education sophomore Maureen Melvin, as she held her friend's forgotten shoe on Waters Edge Drive in Cedar Village on Saturday night. "She didn't even flash them - it was just her bra."
Patrol cars blocked several side streets, stopping vehicles from entering the already crowded confines of such areas as Cedar Village. But barricades didn't hinder gatherers from tossing glass bottles at each other and officers, who were fully dressed in riot gear.
One woman remains in serious condition at Sparrow Hospital with head injuries after she fell about 10 feet from a ledge by the Marriott at University Place, 300 M.A.C. Ave.
No officers were injured in the celebration, but one East Lansing patrol car had its rear window was smashed.
On a smaller scale, the scene mimicked the city's reactions that came about during the March 27-28, 1999, riot, which resulted in 132 arrests, including 71 MSU students. Prosecutors boasted an 86 percent conviction rate, sentencing 113 people for 55 felonies and 58 misdemeanors.
The 1999 rioting caused more than $250,000 in property damage to campus and East Lansing.
It's too early to tell how much Saturday's celebration will cost the city in repairs and police overtime, police officials said.
Originally, university spokesman Terry Denbow said he doubted the university would seek disciplinary action outside of police action. But after speaking with MSU President M. Peter McPherson on Saturday afternoon, he said that could change as soon as this week.
Under MSU Board of Trustees policy, following the 1999 riots, an MSU student can be punished by the university for off-campus activity.
"McPherson firmly expects that policy to be enforced," Denbow said.
Those arrested can be arraigned as early as this week and if they are found guilty can face up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.
All of the 18 arrested were 22 years old or younger, one was a Western Michigan University student and one was a Bowling Green State University student. The other person arrested is a nonstudent, East Lansing police Chief Louis Muhn said.
At the intersection of Albert Avenue and Charles Street, a small blaze erupted when gatherers ignited beer boxes and clothes.
"People were jumping through the fire and the last guy that was trying to put it out was chased down the street by police," said Keric Fritzsching, a Lansing resident and chef at MSU.
The crowd began dispersing at about 2:30 a.m., and some students took refuge inside late-night eateries.
This isn't the first time Robin Sanford, a second assistant at McDonald's, 1024 E. Grand River Ave., has witnessed large crowds gather nearby to celebrate a big game.
"It was a lot busier last time," Sanford said. "It is only the Sweet 16. Give it a couple more games."
And the celebration wasn't limited to just Spartan faithful.
"We've never seen anything like this at Albion," said Mike Truesdell, a sophomore at Albion College, adding more people showed up after the game than the whole student population at his school.
"You guys blow U-M out of the water as far as riots are concerned."
Staff writers Brian Charlton, Steve Eder, Kevin Hardy, Chad Previch and Elysia Smith contributed to this report.
