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SDSU-Saint Mary's Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening Statement:
"It's an understatment for me to say it was a terrific victory for our program and more importantly for the young guys that are in our program as we speak. These were two teams tonight that are good and can play with anybody in the country. I think we showed that. We jumped off to a phenomanal start and I dont think we ever trailed the whole game. We owe our crowd, which I think in the 10 years that I have been here I have never heard a louder crowd. A lot of times you get involved when you are on a run but our crowd was supportive when we struggled, when we missed some lay-ups, missed some free throws and when they started a run. For that we are tremendously indebted and appreciative. They obviously helped us win this game tonight. Playing at home was a huge asset for us. Our two guys from Las Vegas (Billy White and Lorrenzo Wade) did what we needed them to do. When (White) gets in and around the rim, he is a hard guard. (Wade) with all the things he does, that are not mesaured on a stat sheet; to make plays, to lead this team in the huddle, in the locker room, on the practice floor. You win with senior leadership and you win with good kids and good players; and we have that. We are very proud to be representing first ourselves, our University and our league going to New York to play for an NIT national championship. That is our goal, I hope none of us are satisfied just to go. Our goal is to win two more games and we are good enough to do that."
On if this victory was the biggest win in SDSU history:
"I dont know about that. I've been here for 10 years and we have had some pretty good, significant signature wins for us. Our first MWC tournament win in Las Vegas against Las Vegas. Winning the conference outright and winning the tournament in the same year were significant wins. We have not done anything in postseason play in either NCAA or NIT levels other than win one game. Now we have won three games and I dont believe the program, even going way back, has ever done that. What it has done tonight is put us on a national stage where I know they will be talking about us. I tried not to let it get to `Oh they don't respect us.' But as I listened to the kids they said, `Hey Fish, they're talking about everybody but us. They're talking about every team in the NIT but us.' I told them to just go out and play. If you play and you win that will speak volumes for who you are. We have done that and are playing some really good basketball now."
On the early lead:
"I think what we did when we got that lead, we were perfect, making every shot while they turned it over. They were on their heels and as a coach you are saying, `Let's get one more possession, let's get one more basket.' You want to extend those runs, we put bullet points up; our keys to success and that was one of t hem. We wanted a minimum of two eight-to-nothing runs for us. When you get that run the way we had it, like Wade said, `Let's be greedy but let's be smart. Don't stop the run with a turnover.' We have all seen games where huge leads can evaporate, on every level, every place, home and away. We knew this was a team that was going to start making shots and we struggled ourselves but that is how it goes. When you get on a run everything goes but once you get on a dry spell you cant even make a lay-up. You have to have the toughness to bow your back and not feel sorry for yourself. You have to live in the moment."
On experience in Madison Square Garden:
"I have been there several times. I played in a preseason NIT game as a head coach, played in one postseason NIT in 1997, sat on the bench as the second lieutenant with all of the answers in 1984 when we won an NIT, so I like playing there. We have had some great success. I have been part of some great success in Madison Square Garden and now we are looking to do that collectively with this group from San Diego State."
San Diego State Senior Lorrenzo Wade
On the fans rushing the court:
"I ran away from them. There were too many people and I got a little bit claustrophobic. These guys (the team), I know that they definitely enjoyed it. I was happy that our fans had the opportunity to win us a game like that; and for them to have fun and have something to be proud about and to be able to rush the court."
On his feelings about having a 15-point lead, and then the game being tied at the end:
"You have to be concerned when something like that happens, especially with a player like Patrick Mills on the court. More so than anything, we knew as a team that we needed to buckle down and get some stops, get back on the boards, and make some easy baskets."
On defending Patrick Mills:
"We put speed on speed. We put Richie Williams on Patrick Mills and he handled his business tonight. Mills was 7-for-24 from the field, and Richie did an excellent job. I'm giving him all of the credit."
San Diego State Sophomore Billy White
On what he did well tonight:
"I tried to get as close to the basket as I could. I know that once I get close to the basket I can score. I just tried to help my team and that's what I did tonight to help get the victory."
On tonight being a big win for the program:
"I think this is big for me. They've beaten us two years in a row, and I know that I wanted to beat them so badly and the team wanted to beat them as well. To me, this is a big win and I think that for our team this is a big win."
Saint Mary's Head Coach Randy Bennett
Opening statement:
"On Monday we played in a great atmosphere (for a) college basketball game at our place and tonight, we played in an unbelievable atmosphere again. That's why you play; that's why you coach. You want to get yourself in these situations where you're playing for something that matters. Both teams cared a lot. I don't think we were quite ready for the storm that hit us to start the game and we got ourselves down. I couldn't be more proud of our players, the way they competed and got back in the game. They're not used to not winning. They kept playing and playing hard and believing. As a coach, that's all you can ask for. We had a chance to win that game down the stretch and that's what you want your players to do; give yourself a chance to win in this atmosphere playing a good team. San Diego State is a very good team. They've had a great year. I'm really proud of this team and what they've done."
On the NIT experience:
"The experience of the NIT is a very positive experience for our team, our program. We've been in the NCAA tournament. We'd like to be this year. Everybody can't go. When it comes down to selecting the teams, they have some tough decisions. San Diego State was certainly worthy of being in. I think we were certainly worthy of being in, but the teams that did make it were probably worthy of being in. Somebody's going to get the short straw and we did and San Diego State did. Playing in the NIT was not a downer for us; it was great. What a tournament; very good teams. Every team we played was very good. Davidson had 27 wins and we're playing them in the second round of the NIT. They've got a first-team All-American. Their team went to the final eight the year before with the same guy that did a little better. Our guys have no regrets, we left it all out there and we played in a great college basketball atmosphere tonight. You are not going to get much better than that. You want to get into these games, this was a big game. Don't tell me people don't care about NIT. There is a reason they stormed the court; they are excited to get back to New York. There is a reason there were a few guys with tears in their eyes after the game; it meant a lot. That is why you play and tonight we came out on the short end of it but I think our guys in the program learned a lot and will be better when we are in this situation again."
Saint Mary's Sophomore Patrick Mills
On shooting and missed shots:
"It's the little one percenters. Groove or no groove you still play defense, you still get out in the open, you still box out, you stil get rebounds. Thats only one aspect of the game. It was one of those days. A great lesson to learn from this. Like coach said this why we played, to learn from it and get better from the situation."
On bouncing back mentally from 13 point deficit:
"Mental toughness was what it was. We had every excuse in the world to just lay down and die after the first few minutes, with the crowd, with the score with what was going around us. We're tough, we were a tough team. It came down to the mental toughness in the end that put us in the best possible chance to win the game."