EAST LANSING — City police said they made 60 arrests on Saturday night and early Sunday morning following Michigan State’s win over Connecticut in the NCAA Final Four semifinals — nearly six times an average Saturday night in the college town that has been known for rioting over the years. Most of the arrests were for crimes such as assault, attempted arson and indecent exposure.
 
A year ago at CedarFest, a gathering police later labeled a riot, the party was broken up with tear gas and resulted in 52 arrests. While this weekend’s celebrations resulted in more arrests, police said that the revelry was more under control.

“We had a peaceful celebration of a great MSU win,” East Lansing Police Chief Tom Wibert said in a statement. “I am proud that our students celebrated with class, and I am proud of the way that our officers handled this situation.”

Police were on hand in Cedar Village apartment complex for nearly four and half hours as a crowd estimated at 2,000 by the police, danced in the street, chanted “Go Green! Go White!” and body surfed — an activity where a person is hoisted in the air and passed atop the crowd.

The crowd took to the streets at about 8:45 p.m. Saturday night after Michigan State men’s basketball team beat Connecticut, 82-73. MSU will face North Carolina on Monday night in the NCAA Final at Ford Field in Detroit.

Wibert told Michigan Messenger on Saturday night that he expects a crowd to take to the streets again Monday if MSU wins.

“You know, if they win I think that they’ll be out here in a foot of snow if they have to,” he said.

Officers from eight jurisdictions worked to monitor the crowd. Police say they had 230 officers on duty.