KANSAS CITY, Missouri — While confetti covered the hardwood and celebratory music blared over the loudspeaker at the Sprint Center on Saturday night, senior Naz Mitrou-Long took a moment to answer.

The Cyclones had just won their third Big 12 Tournament title in four years, but Mitrou-Long’s mind wandered to the past.

He was asked about Bryce Dejean-Jones, a former Cyclone who was shot and killed in late May 2016, just a few months after he signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA. 

Tears welled in the pit of Mitrou-Long’s eyes as a warmup shirt with Dejean-Jones’ name draped his shoulders. The team wore the shirts in honor of the fallen Cyclone before a game against Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 14, 2016. 

“Last time [Dejean-Jones and I] were on the court together, we won this thing [in 2015],” Mitrou-Long said. “I’ll never forget Bryce, we were texting the day before he passed about catching up and seing each other. The next day he died. I made a promise to his brother Malik that he’d live on forever. He’s smiling right now. And it’s special.”

Dejean-Jones played for the Cyclones for one season — in 2014-15 — and helped the team win its second straight Big 12 Tournament title at the time. 

Mitrou-Long brought the shirt up the ladder with him to cut down his piece of the net Saturday night. He held up the back of the shirt, the side with Dejean-Jones’ name, to the crowd. It was met with a loud round of a applause. 

“That was everything. I couldn’t wait for that moment,” Mitrou-Long said. “I know he’s looking down on us, smiling, with his ring and his little piece of the net. I’m glad I could do that for him and his family.”