Dec. 1, 2010
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San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening statement:
"It was a good team victory created by our defense. I thought we did a good job of how we defended the high-ball screens. Saint Mary's made some shots with a hand in their face. I told our players before the game that we want to make a run at their three perimeter guys and close in short on Rob Jones. They made us pay in the second half the way they made three after three. I thought we played extremely hard, and we earned a victory against a very good basketball team."
On the team's defense:
"We did a nice job of taking away what looked like some easy shots at the rim with blocks. They had 10 blocks on us last year, we returned the favor this year."
On the play of Chase Tapley and Malcolm Thomas in the closing minutes:
"Tapley was really huge for us when the team made a run and he got on a tear. You knew when he got it he wanted to shoot it because he felt that hot hand. We tried to run a couple of looks for him, and he made both some hard shots, and some that were open that he is going to make. Malcolm is a guy that's a hard guard when he's inside. He is very difficult to guard one-on-one, and it creates opportunities for others when you come and give up a double team because he find the open man very well."
San Diego State Sophomore Guard Chase Tapley
On his hot shooting night:
"I got my shots in the flow of the game. I just wanted to make big shots for the team and the defense really keyed that; like Malcolm (Thomas's) blocks, he had six tonight. Saint Mary's is a good team. (The) shots were just falling for me tonight."
On how the team limited Saint Marys leading scorer, Mickey McConnell, to just two points:
"Give it up to D.J. Gay. He played him tough for 94 feet. He put his hoverhand over him when (McConnell) was trying to shoot and (D.J.) is the player of the game to me. He locked him up."
San Diego State Senior Forward Malcolm Thomas
On his success blocking shots against Saint Mary's:
"The fans gave me the energy to keep blocking shots. I'm not the biggest guy in the post, so what I lack in size I try to make up for with my energy on defense."
On last year's early season loss to Saint Mary's:
"It stuck with us, we talked about it all the time in practice. Last year we didn't communicate well. We kind of underestimated defensive transition and this year we kind of made that our main goal defensively. We wante to get out on their 3-point shooters because they are a great 3-point shooting team."
On the effect that the home crowd has on the Aztecs' success:
"I feel that we play better at home because of our fans. They are just so hyped and energetic and that helps us on both ends."
Saint Mary's Head Coach Randy Bennett
On the game:
"We came in here and spotted them 10 points at the start of the game. We did that in the NIT (two years ago at SDSU) and we came back, but we can't do that against a team as good as they are. We are young in some ways. This was our first true road game and it showed. I give them credit though. They exposed us. They exposed a lot of things. Most of all we have to get mentally tougher and better competitors on the road."
On comparing SDSU to BYU:
"San Diego State was tougher for us. They were tougher to score on. BYU is good though. BYU is more perimeter oriented, and these guys have more of an inside attack."
On SDSU:
"It's hard to get a good look on them. You get a layup or good post move, and they block it. They must have had seven or eight blocks. They are good athletes and good defensively. They are going to make you shoot a three over a hand or a tough two. They did a good job at making you take tough shots. We had to hit some tough shots to get 55. I think to beat them you have to be even more patient. "
Saint Mary's Junior Forward Rob Jones
On SDSU:
"They're an athletic bunch. They can make moves. I'm not diving to the basket like I should be, but they make athletic plays."
On the game:
"We started off flat and gave them a lead. (The) shots weren't really falling for us. We got back in the game, and then let them get away with it again. That's maturity on our part. We have to be tougher than that."
On comparing SDSU from last year to this year:
"I was a fan at the time. They are year older, more mature and grew up a little bit. They've always had good players. They are playing well right now."