March 1, 2016
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -
San Diego State-New Mexico Postgame Quotes
San Diego State Head Coach Steve Fisher
Opening remarks:
"We were really good tonight at both ends of the floor. We got our shots. We got the kinds of shots we wanted to take, where we wanted to take them and by who we wanted to get the shot for. I think they were up 16-4 and we went on a 16-0 run and put ourselves in position to take control of the game and did not let up. We just stayed with it, stayed with it, stayed with it This was, for certain, a terrific 40 minutes of basketball on both sides of the ball. This is as good as we have played this year."
On the early scoring runs by both teams:
"We played together and stayed with it. This game is predicated on runs and when we got ours and got ahead, we did not give them another run. We repelled every advance they made on us and found a way to get a victory where it is very hard place for anyone to get a win."
On New Mexico's turnovers:
"We did a good job of doubling both (Cullen) Neal and (Elijah) Brown and making them have to make plays off the dribble with congestion. It is hard to do. That led to the turnovers they had. We did a good job of creating those turnovers."
On Malik Pope (20 points, three rebounds, two assists):
"He was very good. He was poised when he got his shots and made them. He was we all want to see and now we want to see it again and again."
On the challenges of playing at The Pit:
"People who have never been here don't appreciate how hard it is to come in here, regardless of their record. They are a tough out in this building. We came in with poise, toughness and togetherness that will win you championships. We displayed that tonight."
On playing Malik Pope and Zylan Cheatham playing together:
"We had stretches tonight that instead of having either one of our two bigs in, Skyler (Spencer) or Angelo (Chol), we had the two young guys in, Malik and Zylan, and I thought they did a really good job of guarding (Tim) Williams in the post. They did not let him have it any way he wanted and doubled him when he got it. They did a nice job when they were in the game together."
On Saturday's final home game for seniors Angelo Chol, Winston Shepard, Skyler Spencer:
"It will be a wonderful salute and tribute to three invaluable players to this program. These three care very much and have great pride in what this program has accomplished."
San Diego State Sophomore Forward Malik Pope
On the game:
"This game was an exclamation point for us. We can't lose two in a row. We had to come here, show up and do our thing."
On his game:
"It is about being strong. It is about trying to help the team as much as you can. I told him one time 'Hey coach, I am tired.' He said, 'I need you to go out there and give it all you have got. I need you right now'. I said, 'I got you, Coach.'
"It felt good to play like that. It is always fun when you have a good game. You just have to try and keep it consistent. Clearly, I am capable of it. We have to keep winning games as a team. We have a very talented team."
San Diego State Sophomore Guard Trey Kell
On the win:
"It is big for our confidence. This is our most dominant win the whole year.
"We had the same game plan, we just executed better. The first half we gave up too many free throws, we were trying to stay down on the up fakes."