Kent State University began spring break at 5 p.m. Friday. But the revelry began a night early.

A student walks past a Kent State dormitory window emblazoned with a curse against Indiana. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        Fans filled campus streets late Thursday night when the Golden Flashes won an overtime game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Having gone as far as any Mid-American Conference team ever has, KSU plays Indiana at 7 tonight in Lexington, Ky., for a berth in the Final Four.

        “Whenever we're referred to out of state, everyone says, "Is that where the shootings happened?” said Emily Shurtz, 24, a senior from East Liverpool, Ohio. “Now it's, "Your basketball team is great; you rock.'”

        KSU's national reputation had been shaped by the 1970 shooting deaths of four student protesters by the National Guard.

        The men's team didn't make the NCAAs until 1999, but it upset Indiana in the tournament's first round last year.

        The school had a dorm-decorating contest Thursday, then fans gathered before TVs in the student center and restaurants to watch KSU play Pittsburgh. When the game ended, students poured out into the night to whoop it up.

Church faces historic inquiry
Boycott's list adds a new star
Text of letter to Whoopi Goldberg
Ex-minister guilty in securities case
Hoosiers aim for return to royal echelon of NCAA
Kent State polishes a new national image
Auto store denied permit
Bengals get a break on Cinergy suite
City cracks down on 'take-home' cars
Evendale skips special meeting
Indictment made in burglaries where fridge was also raided
New chief has cloudy work record
Park hopes to be halted
Tristate A.M. Report
Woman helps raise hopes
MCNUTT: Warren County
RADEL: Other takes
SAMPLES: Elder bashing
THOMPSON: Faith Matters
Award memorializes Kings student
Developers scale back plans
GOP dissidents protest at Taft's speech
Monroe's new booty: play ship
Robbery called inside job
Ohio to keep travel slogan
Traficant hearing canceled
Committee OKs tax amnesty
Costs of rains, floods could hit at least $26.5M
Former governor won't run
I-71 project near Louisville may face delay
Owners get house back
Police chief plans May retirement
Sen. Robinson pondering more retirement bills
Senate unlikely to hear tough seat-belt bill
Sponsor gives track hope