Mount St. Mary’s Basketball Wins NEC Title
.@MountAthletics is DANCIN’ on ESPN2 ⛰️🏀🏆 #NECMBB #NECchamps pic.twitter.com/HVBjRTxvUm
— Northeast Conference (@NECsports) March 10, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
For the sixth time in school history, Mount St. Mary’s basketball is heading to the NCAA Tournament. A perennial NEC power, ‘The Mount’ was playing in its eighth NEC final, the last in 2017. On the flip side, Bryant was making its first and has never been to the NCAA Tournament as a Division I institution.
1) Mount St. Mary’s Basketball Rides Defense To NEC Title
Mount St. Mary’s prides itself on its defensive efficiency, highlighted by the fact that they have held 16 of their last 17 opponents to under 70 points. Make that 17 of the last 18 games. Bryant only shot 38% from the field and other than Charley Pride, they did not allow anyone else to make a three-point field goal.
🏆 2021 NEC CHAMPIONS 🏆#RingSZN #ClimbTHEMOUNTain pic.twitter.com/A5a5yvBkRb
— The Mount MBB (@MountHoops) March 10, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
2) Balanced Scoring Effort Leads Mount St. Mary’s Basketball to Win
The Mount played only seven players. Four of their five starters played 31 or more minutes. Damian Chong Qui played all 40 minutes and led the team with 21 points. He added eight rebounds and five assists. The starters scored all but five of the Mount’s points.
3:22 2H | Mount 65, Bryant 55
Dame doing his thing late in the game. Chong Qui with 17 points in the second half. Mount up by 10 at the final media timeout.
WATCH ON ESPN2: https://t.co/R8d45tJe0m pic.twitter.com/EPt6cYbiYG
— The Mount MBB (@MountHoops) March 10, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
3) Charles Pride Almost Led Bryant to First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance
Pride carried the Bulldogs on his back. He also played all 40 minutes and scored a game-high 33 points. He made eight three-pointers on the night. The sophomore will be back to torment the NEC for two more years.
.@SourPatchChuck5 sent us to the break with a HUGE three.
He’s got 14 at the break.
Watch live on ESPN2: https://t.co/0D2nQqZlOk#KEB1 | #NECMBB pic.twitter.com/K9uVBJ3rmx
— Bryant Men’s Basketball (@BryantHoops) March 10, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Mount St. Mary’s Basketball will head to Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament. Where will they be seeded? They will find out for sure on Sunday but look for the Mount, who were the four seed for this tournament, to be seeded along the 15 line. They will enter the field of 68 with a record of 12-10 so they could fall to the 16 line.
Featured image from Mount St. Mary’s basketball Twitter page