This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Lexington, Ky. • Police used tear gas to control rowdy fans and several couch fires were lit in the streets after Kentucky fell to Connecticut in the NCAA basketball championship final.
Susan Straub, a spokeswoman for the city of Lexington, says 19 couch fires were lit overnight in the State Street area of Lexington. There were 23 injuries, most of them minor and treated at the scene. She confirmed 31 arrests but had no further details in a statement released Tuesday.
Shirtless youths streamed into the streets and lit fires soon after Kentucky's 60-54 loss to Connecticut on Monday night. Some were crying and others hugging after the defeat. The crowd continued to grow after the game despite a chilly, rain-soaked night in the Lexington area.