Nov. 25, 2014
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LAHAINA, Hawaii -
SDSU Postgame Quotes | Brigham Young Postgame Quotes
THE MODERATOR: Coach, some comments about the game?
COACH FISHER: This is the kind of game we've had for a lot of years with BYU. Dave Rose and I and our wives are very good friends, and it's hard to be friends with other teams that you know are good who have beaten you. Got great respect for him. He runs a terrific program. And they are really, really a good basketball team. They're a hard team to guard. I think the start for us was important.
Winston had back to back baskets off balls he picked up off the floor and put in. People have been saying they can't make a basket. We shot 20 some odd percent in two games, and we think we can make shots. But until you do, that doubt might linger.
But we played good basketball. We had opportunities. We missed a few free throws, and we're saying this game should not be in overtime, and it shouldn't have. They're saying it shouldn't have gone to two overtimes, and they're right there too. So basketball is a nutty game, but you have to play every possession, and we've got a good team. We're long. We're athletic. We can guard. I'm proud of our guys. This is what we wanted the chance to move in on the winner's bracket, and we'll have that opportunity against a really good Pittsburgh team tomorrow.
Q. Aqeel, could you tell us about the three pointer you made and how you felt confident? You just missed one right before, but how you felt confident and making that shot was a big one?
Aqeel Quinn: Yeah, the first one I saw the ball screen come off and it hit me in the corner, and I saw the big man come out and he blocked my shot. Then I just really didn't want the ball to go down the other way, so I had to make another play. I tipped the ball. Sky got it, and gave it right back to me. I looked down to see if I was behind the three and I just let it fly.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Fisher.
COACH FISHER: I know it's not going to make any deadline anywhere in the country except New Zealand. So I don't blame you for not having any questions. I'd like to go home. So any questions?
Q. I don't know what the number is now, but it's somewhere in the 120s. You guys have won games in a row with a lead at the five minute mark. Can you just respond to how your players react down the stretch of close games so that you can keep that streak alive?
COACH FISHER: We compete, compete hard, try to make the thought next play, next play, next play, and we've gotten a little lucky. We got lucky tonight in that first overtime. I thought we got unlucky in regulation. We missed some free throws, and JJ's ball was in, and it looked like Winston or somebody was going to tip dunk it in, and neither of them went. Then at the end of the first overtime probably a lot of people thought, well, that streak's over. We found a way to make a play. AQ is such a delight to have on our team. I know you know his history. Transferred from Northridge with no scholarship, walk on one year. We put him on scholarship, and he's become such an inspirational leader of our team.
He's determined. He appreciates what he's got and it shows. He appreciates everything that he's got, and it shows. So I think that's rubbed off on a lot of us. We've got three fifth year seniors which definitely helps. So we don't panic. We didn't panic, even though we made some crazy plays at times, I don't think it was from panicking, and found a way to get a win. That's the name of the game. We'll have a lot of close games this year, and we're hopeful that we'll win most of them.
Q. Just wanted to get a reaction from you about picking up your 500th win, and also I guess you tied the school record. Just a reaction on that?
COACH FISHER: We're in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational. That is what's most important. That's what I'm most proud of. I think I represent I've been here more than all the rest of these guys put together. My fifth year. I sat shotgun as first lieutenant with all the answers to Bill Frieder when we won two. Two other times I think we came in third for a fifth try. So we want a chance to put a San Diego State banner up where we've got some of those other banners. So we're so excited to be playing in the semis of this event.
I've said this before, this is where we all want to come to. I begged Dave Odom who is a long-time friend. I said, Dave, get us in. Get us in. Get us in. And he finally got us in. So we're privileged to be here, and we're more proud of the fact that we're playing in the winner's bracket.
Q. This is the most we've seen Kyle Collinsworth play this year because he's coming off that injury. What did you think of his performance tonight, playing 45 minutes?
COACH FISHER: I watched the three games prior to this one, and I didn't think he felt comfortable with his play. I thought that the knee was having an impact on his maneuverability, ability to get where he wanted to go. Tonight he was pretty close to what I saw as all conference in the WCC last year. He's a very good player. Knows how to play. Can get where he wants to go with the ball. He's big in post-up. I'm hopeful for him and their team that he'll progress from here physically. That is the key for him, if he's okay with his health. It looked like he took a big step tonight probably mentally with his game, so he's good. He's good. We knew he was good.
THE MODERATOR: Coach, some opening comments?
COACH ROSE: Well, I thought it was a really hard fought game. Probably a great basketball game to watch back and forth. We had a hard time getting the lead and got the lead late and had a hard time protecting the lead.
So I give Coach Fisher and his team, congratulate them for a hard fought win, and wish them the best in the rest of the tournament and throughout the season. For us, we'll have to bounce back from a disappointing loss and hopefully be ready to play tomorrow morning.
Q. You guys started slow, what was the key to getting back in the game?
TYLER HAWS: I think just our effort. It took a few minutes to adjust to everything. We started rebounding better, and started sharing the ball and getting our shots. Got ourselves back in the game.
Q. Tyler, they seemed to have a handle on you in the first half. But on the second half you seemed to get back on track. Did you change some things or did you look for things?
TYLER HAWS: No, the coaches told us to shoot our shots. I think we were trying to do too much sometimes, so we just started playing our game and shooting the shots that they were giving us and started making shots.
Q. Kyle, tonight you played 45 minutes and were on the floor an awful lot. How did that feel with your knee and how did you feel you acquitted yourself taking on those extra minutes tonight?
KYLE COLLINSWORTH: My knee feels really good. So I'm really blessed and fortunate about that. There's no swelling, so it's great, and it's the best it's felt through the process. I was just grateful I had no problems through those 45 minutes. There was a reason we worked our way up and stayed under 20 to get to this point so my body could do that. Tonight I just tried to be a leader for my team and make the necessary plays.
Q. I think you both played against San Diego State when you were in Mountain West in your careers. Do you miss playing them and is there a certain energy about those games?
TYLER HAWS: The games are always fun to play in. They're always really well coached and they have talented guys and we love competing against each other. This one just hurts. We had our chances to win the game, but we've got to bounce back.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, questions for Coach Rose.
Q. Coach, I know it's a tough loss, but is there any solace in the way you guys hung in there and forced overtime and took the lead in that first overtime?
COACH ROSE: I'm extremely proud of our guys. I think one of the most important things that we wanted to do in this game was to make sure that we would never fault our effort, that our guys would leave everything out there. We didn't go really deep in our bench tonight, and I felt like we were chasing them the whole time. That was something where I felt like the experienced guys could really help us get to that point. But we got some great play off the bench from Isaac and from Corbin, and Dalton gave us some good minutes. Jake Toolson gave us a few minutes early in the first half. I think we got better.
As a result of this game, you'd love to have a win against a nationally ranked team early in the season. What we need to do is make sure our guys learned from what happened here. I mean, we made some big plays. Then they made some big plays against us, and plays we're capable of. We got the block late in the game with the three point lead, I think, and didn't secure the ball. Got it taken from us, and the guy steps back hits the three and tied the game. I think those are all things we can learn from.
I think it's a lot more enjoyable to learn from those kind of things when you actually win the game, so hopefully we can bounce back tomorrow.