Hype for Butler University's movie-like, underdog NCAA Tournament run spread across the country, especially in its home state of Indiana.
But the hype wasn't enough to get them a national championship, as a disappointed, yet satisfied feeling fell on people around Ball State University's campus.
Zachery Boutwell, a former Ball State student, isn't a big basketball fan, but he was one of many overcome with the stories and comparisons to the movie "Hoosiers."
"When the underdog gets a chance to win like that ... it's pretty awesome," he said.
Boutwell was caught up in the intensity of the last few minutes of the game. He sat in the Locker Room in the Village with friends among a larger-than-normal Monday night crowd. Seemingly the entire bar was rooting for Butler, Boutwell among them. He said he was amazed at how good the game was.
"I'm excited to see any championship game that close throughout," he said. "It would've been better if Butler won."
Boutwell was visiting family in Indianapolis the previous day, he said, and the city was packed. Everyone was friendly and excited for the game.
Austin Swaim, of Losantville, Ind., made a bet with the owner of the Locker Room with about 33 seconds left in the game. Unfortunately for him, he bet on Butler.
Swaim has been a fan of Butler for about five or six years, he said.
"They play like the Hoosiers used to play back when Bob Knight was coach," he said. "They play with heart. I like seeing the local boys do well."
Others watched the game from the comfort of their residence halls.
Freshman Robert Moore watched the game with a few friends in Woodworth Complex. He said he enjoyed the intense, competitive atmosphere provided by the NCAA Tournament. He said he didn't get into Butler's underdog storyline as much as some people. He said he may have if he knew people who went to the school.
"Honestly, I would be more excited for Purdue because I know people who go there," Moore said.
In LaFollette Complex, students put their books down for a few hours to watch the game. Yells and whistles could be heard down the halls coming from dorms, and some students were seen running to the bathroom during short breaks.
In a lounge in Edwards Hall, a couple jokes and a small pingpong match entertained a group of students while others watched commercials and talked during halftime.
The atmosphere was calm until the last six minutes and, as the game neared its end, the students' frustration was apparent.
"At least this is a close game," freshman entrepreneurship major Jason Hook kept repeating during the last five minutes.
But excitement built up in the last 30 seconds when Butler was down by one. Every student in the lounge yelled as Butler's final shots missed the hoop.
One of them, freshman journalism major Eric Seaman, threw himself to the floor, rolling and pounding his fists saying he could not believed what he had seen.
Despite his frustration, Seaman said he enjoyed the game.
"Considering what experts were saying about the game's outcome, Butler proved in this game that it's all about teams, not only Duke's big three," he said.
Freshman computer science major Andy Mattingly finished an assignment while watching the game. Mattingly had been following Indiana teams and some of the major teams in the country during the tournament, but said he had not expected to see Butler in the final game.
"I think during all major championship games people like to come together," he said. "I had to do homework during the game, but I had a good time."
Seaman said he was excited for next year's tournament.
"I hate Duke, but we had a good afternoon," he said. "I got to gather with my friends and we had a good time."
Sarah Boswell and Tommy Conroy contributed to this report.
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