Unruly fans of the University of Arizona Wildcats took to the streets and threw beer bottles and firecrackers at officers following the Wildcat's overtime loss to Wisconsin on Saturday night.
The Associated Press reported that Tucson police confirmed that they used pepper spray to defend themselves against several hundred fans who became rowdy after their team lost to the Badgers, 64-63 in the West Regional Final in Anaheim.
There were no reported injuries to the fans or officers, but Tucson police Sgt. Pete Dugan told AP that 15 people were nabbed for offenses like resisting arrest, unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct. Fourteen were released while one was sent to the Pima County jail. The officer said those who attacked the officers were also arrested.
The police added that fans who left bars and restaurants within the campus went to the University Boulevard to assemble. Police then brought a unit of officers equipped with face masks and batons to put a barricade in the area. People started to toss beer bottles and firecrackers against the police and their vehicles.
In order to defend themselves, officers fired pepper spray and canisters against the fans. There were also reports that the police used tear gas, although this was denied by the officers.
The closely-contested match ended with Wisconsin escaping a one-point victory after Nick Johnson missed a shot that could have won it for Arizona. The Wildcats also got a break with 2 second left in overtime after the referees ruled that it was the Badgers who knocked the ball out of bounds, giving them another chance to set-up a game-winning play that Johnson failed to score on.
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