Bryant University Basketball Team Safe After Earthquake Hits Rome

The men's basketball team was in Rome for preseason training

The Bryant University Men's Basketball team is safe after an earthquake hit near Rome, where the team was traveling for preseason training.

necn-affiliate NBC 10 spoke with assistant coach Chris Burns who recounted the quake.

Burns said, "it woke us right up out of the sound sleep, it felt like the room was shaking and swaying."

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit about 75 miles north of where the team was located in Rome early Wednesday morning.

"It lasted a long time, I mean it lasted over 30 seconds which doesn't seem like a long time but when you're in the middle of it, it was a pretty long time."

Burns said he eventually went into the hotel lobby to see what was going on and watched television to learn more about the earthquake.

He added that later he walked around to see what was going on and whether there was severe damage but added, "luckily it wasn't too bad when we were walking around."

At least 38 people were killed in the earthquake.

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