MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia University on Friday condemned students and fans who celebrated the WVU men's basketball team's victory in the NCAA regional semifinal by setting about 50 street fires, forcing police to use Mace to control crowds.
WVU beat Texas Tech 65-60 on Thursday night, moving the Mountaineers to the regional finals for the first time since Jerry West led them to the championship game in 1959.
''It's unfortunate that people who had nothing to do with the team's victory stole the spotlight briefly after the game,'' said Ken Gray, WVU's vice president for student affairs.
Gray vowed that students who set fires will face sanctions, including expulsion.
Lt. Bill Trevillian of the Morgantown Fire Department said street fires were set downtown and in at least three student residential areas, including Sunnyside, Wiles Hill and Richwood Avenue. The fires burned trash, couches, one vehicle, ''anything that would burn basically,'' Trevillian said.
Police Chief Phillip Scott told WBOY-TV that some police vehicles were damaged.
No one was seriously injured, although several firefighters were hit by bottles or cans thrown at them, Trevillian said.
The Dominion Post of Morgantown reported that a couch was thrown off a balcony and hit someone. Police had to use Mace to control large crowds downtown, the newspaper reported Friday.
Trevillian said there were several arrests, but he did not know how many and did not know what the charges were. Morgantown Police refused to discuss the incidents Friday morning, saying officers who knew what happened were out all night and would not be in until after noon. State Police did not immediately return a phone call Friday morning.
Setting street fires to celebrate sports victories has been a tradition at WVU for at least 30 years, Trevillian said.
''Last night is the worst it's been in a good while. It's not the worst we've ever had,'' Trevillian said. ''I wish they would quit it. I don't think it's going to happen.''
Some students said they don't see anything wrong with setting celebratory fires.
''We know how to have fun, and we do it in a responsible way,'' a student who said his name was Jeff Goodboy told WBOY-TV.
But others said the behavior was dangerous.
''I think it's a little too crazy,'' said Brittney Mills. ''It's fun, but people take it a little too far.''
Gray said coach John Beilein and players encouraged students through e-mail messages and public service announcements all week to act responsibly after the game.
''Good sportsmanship is expected of our fans. Anything less is not going to be tolerated,'' Gray said. ''It's up to the fans to act responsibly and with class.''
The university and city police will increase security when WVU plays Louisville in Saturday afternoon's NCAA regional final, said Bob Roberts, WVU's director of public safety.
The plan includes clearing Grant Avenue before the game and increasing police patrols throughout the city, Roberts said.
