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Vice President Joe Biden takes selfies with the Syracuse student section before the Syracuse/North Carolina semifinal game in Houston Saturday, April 2, 2016.

(Lauren Long | llong@syracuse.com)

Houston — Security halted reporters and passersby who attempted to navigate a primary postgame corridor after North Carolina defeated Syracuse 83-66 in the second of two NCAA Tournament national semifinals.

A bomb-sniffing dog twitched along the perimeter and other ominous security people suddenly appeared near the Syracuse locker room. Vice President Joe Biden, who mingled with Syracuse fans before Saturday's game and posed for dozens of photos, was ushered into the Orange locker room to speak with Syracuse players.

"He was proud of us," Syracuse guard Michael Gbinije said. "He talked about how he's been following us and wished us all the best. It's nice to see the vice president in your locker room."

"He told us just to keep our heads up," SU center Dajuan Coleman said. "He said he was real proud, that we made all the Syracuse supporters proud this year from the way we played all year. And making it to the Final Four, he was real proud."

Biden emerged from the Orange locker room and addressed reporters gathered there.

"Those Syracuse kids are a helluva bunch of kids," he said.

Biden graduated from SU's College of Law in 1968.