Five UConn students are arrested after Huskies' NCAA tournament win as Storrs campus suffers 'some incidents of vandalism'... but avoids a repeat of 2023's March Madness when fans caused $550,000 in damages

Connecticut's second straight NCAA men's basketball title came without the rioting and destruction that punctuated the Huskies' 2023 championship when the Storrs campus suffered $550,000 in damages as 25 students, 10 faculty members, and 10 others were arrested.

In what could be seen as a sign of maturity, there were only five arrests this year. And rather than lighting fires, flipping cars, and repurposing felled light poles as battering rams, the UConn students refrained from any major destruction amid a heavy police presence.

'Thousands of UConn students and others on the Storrs campus celebrated an amazing Husky victory this evening and the vast majority did so respectfully, responsibly, and safely,' read a statement from UConn officials. 

'There were some incidents of vandalism following the victory, but they were limited in number.

'On the whole, it was a very good night on the Storrs campus and the university looks forward to continuing to celebrate our phenomenal student-athletes, their coaches, and this incredible win.'

The crowd gathered outside Gampel Pavilion had just watched UConn's victory over Purdue 

Throngs of UConn fans are seen pouring out onto the Storrs, Connecticut campus on Monday

A watch part was held Monday at Gampel Pavilion, where Huskies fans watched Danny Hurley's Huskies capture the 2024 title with a 75-60 win over Zach Edey and Purdue. 

The win came three days after the Connecticut women were bounced from the Final Four by Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

But even with only one championship to celebrate in Storrs, police were well prepared to handle any overexuberance from the crowd outside Gampel Pavilion on Monday night.

Fireworks were heard immediately after the win, according to NewsTimes.com, which reported that officers managed to keep students off buildings and other fixtures.

The University of Connecticut is removing aluminum light poles from its main campus pathway

In 2023, students used a fallen lamppost as a battering ram to break into a campus building 

UConn fans climbed lampposts and pulled them down on campus after the team's 2023 win

The school also pre-emptively took down light poles, thereby keeping fans' feet firmly on the campus grounds on Monday.

Perhaps most importantly, alcohol was no served at Monday's watch part at Gampel Pavilion, which may have helped police maintain a safer atmosphere on campus.

Despite the safety measures, students still managed to enjoy themselves.

'It's just a once in a lifetime experience, but we did it twice. Back-to-back!' Jenessa Perez, a junior, told NBC Connecticut.

'Definitely last year it was chaotic I would say, but this year it's very more mellow,' Perez continued. 'The security, the cops, they're here. They're aware, and making sure everyone's safe. So I like that.'