SMITHFIELD, Rhode Island — Amid a near-empty gymnasium at Bryant University on Tuesday night, the shrieks of joy bounced off the walls as a pile of giddy humans collided at midcourt.
Every primal scream. Every sweaty hug. Every unrestrained whoop. They all echoed through the stunned silence of the Chace Athletic Center. As No. 4 Mount St. Mary’s clinched the school’s sixth NCAA bid in the Northeast Conference title game by upsetting No. 2 Bryant, 73-68, the familiar emotion landed differently.
“This is what I do!” star Mount St. Mary’s point guard Damian Chong Qui screamed into a FaceTime call after a few minutes of celebrating with his teammates.