Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information from Ann Arbor and U-M police.
Hundreds of people crowded into the University of Michigan's Diag Saturday night to roar and shout in raucous but mostly law-abiding celebration of the U-M basketball team's Final Four victory over Syracuse.
"It was nerve-racking," said Michelle Maxwell, a U-M alumnus. "I felt like my heart was coming out of my chest."
It's been 20 years since the Wolverines advanced to the men's basketball NCAA National Championship — and the fans were elated.
Jordan Morgan's dunk to seal the victory brought one Michigan fan to tears.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Though the first half of the game ended with Michigan leading 36-25, Syracuse nearly came all the way back and trailed just 57-56 near the end of the game.
"Michigan was cracking a little," said James Griffiths, a U-M junior. "Syracuse was putting on a full defense, but we held on."
The throng of maize-and-blue-clad fans jumped and cheered in front of Hatcher Graduate Library, in the heart of the Diag. People perched on the shoulders of fellow fans led the crowd in spirited chants.
University of Michigan Police spokeswoman Diane Brown estimated the Diag crowd at between 1,200 and 1,500 revelers but said there were no incidents. Ann Arbor police also reported no incidents from the celebrations.
"They were just having a good time and we had no enforcement action to take. It went very well last night," Brown said.
"It was awesome," Maddy Stumpos, a U-M senior. "I cried, I laughed, I almost threw up. It was very high intensity. I felt nauseous since the start. I cried at the end when they slam-dunked."
As the night progressed, people came and went, passing through the Diag to get to State Street or South University Avenue. But the sentiment consistently chanted by the mob remained the same: "It's good to be a Michigan Wolverine."
Kody Klein is a photographer for AnnArbor.com. Freelance reporter Sven Gustafson contributed to this story.