They danced on cars, braved the stinging cold shirtless, and captured it all on videotape.

And even though their voices were already hoarse from cheering their team on to an 82-74 upset victory over North Carolina earlier that night, they managed to give the men's basketball team a deafening welcome as they returned from New Orleans.

According to a Penn State police estimate, 350 supporters turned out to greet the team when it arrived at the University Park Airport shortly after 12:30 a.m. yesterday.

"It's great support," sophomore guard Brandon Watkins said. "They don't have to be here. It's late. It's a Sunday night. Everyone has class tomorrow and work to do. That's important to us. We need the fans."

After hearing news of the team's arrival time on local newscasts, fans began to show up at the airport as early as 11 p.m. With them, they brought signs, homemade t-shirts, and video cameras.

"I'm making a little documentary," said Mark Brice (senior-telecommunications), who plans on making the trip to Atlanta for the Lions' quarterfinal game against Temple Friday. "I'm just taping everything — coming here in the car, the celebration. I'm going to tape the game and tape the trip. I just want to get everyone's reaction."

Fans waited inside the General Aviation Terminal, discussing the tournament and recounting the game's best plays.

"We've been waiting four years for the tournament, and we got it," Anil Varughese (senior-accounting) said. "We finally got it. We not only got in (the Sweet 16), but we beat North Carolina. It makes it all the sweeter."

While Varughese has been waiting four years, other fans have been waiting even longer to see the Lions make a legitimate run for the title.

Chickie Diehl of Millhall, who is a member of the Back the Lions board of directors and Penn State basketball booster club, graduated in 1954 — the last time Penn State advanced this far into the postseason.

Diehl drove 35 miles Sunday night, arriving around 11 p.m.

"We're here win or lose," said Diehl, who was dressed head to toe in Penn State apparel and showed off her "We Believe" sign. "We're very loyal to our team and coaches. We think we have a great coaching staff."

The excitement intensified at about 12:25 a.m. when Penn State police officer Jeff Jones announced that the team was five minutes away. After a massive cheer, the crowd exited the terminal and congregated, as directed by Jones, along the fence to the right of the building.

"We didn't know how many would be here," said Jones. "Everybody's been very well behaved. They're just happy about the victory, and we are too."

After landing, team members waved to the crowd as they stepped off the plane. Decked out in Mardi Gras beads, taking snapshots, and holding video cameras, the team bypassed the slew of media that awaited them and went directly for the fans.

Players walked up and down the area near the fence, saying thank you, reaching out for high fives, and tossing beads into the crowd.

"The players were really cool," Doug Ackley (freshman-engineering) said. "They came up, giving us high fives. They were having just as good of a time as we were."

The team proceeded to interact with the crowd for about 15 minutes before boarding the bus that took them back to The Bryce Jordan Center.

However, the celebration didn't end there.

About 10 students chased the bus on foot as it pulled onto Fox Hill Rd., and a handful of supporters were waiting at The Bryce Jordan Center when the bus arrived.

Still others lingered at the airport, discussing plans to travel to Atlanta for this weekend's game, and anticipating an even bigger celebration on Friday.

"We love the team," said Mike Sabol (sophomore-business administration). "They always believe they can win."

And, as the clever signs and thunderous chants of the crowd indicated, the fans believe it as well.