Head Coach Dave Bezold

On the outcome of the game…
“You feel great about any win, but this one was special because this team has responded after tough losses. On Thursday, it was a very tough loss, and Friday was a very tough practice for everyone involved emotionally and mentally. The five seniors who started kept us focused for 40 minutes, and they led the team. They didn’t run the team or just show up, they led the team and that was very important.”

On shooting 64.9 percent from the field…
“That’s something that happens, and we have had a couple halves where we’ve played like that. It’s weird when it happens, and you just kind of have to enjoy it. We were sharing the ball. We were moving the ball well, and it caused us to get good shots. It was an odd percentage to shoot that well. You normally don’t, but when the first couple fell, the kids were relaxed and just played well.”

On Pat Cary’s performance…
“He had a great game, absolutely. He came out, and Pat gives you everything he’s has every game and today was one those games where everything was falling. He’s capable of doing that. He really, really is. He’s capable of having games big games like he had today.”

Pat Cary

On the senior starting lineup…
“Yesterday, we had a really good practice where a lot of stuff got out that needed to get out. We came in here motivated. In the first half, I had the most fun I’ve had playing basketball in a while. I think I can speak for the rest of the team when I say that. We all had fun playing, and we jumped on them and got a good lead.”

On the team’s performance in the first half…
“We were really happy with the way we played. Then, we came out in the second half, and we kind of gave up that lead a little bit, and I know we got back up, but I think what we need to work on finishing games. We aren’t a second-half team. They beat us by 10 in the second half, but we just need to be able to finish games and outscore opponents in the second half.”

On the one shot that he missed…
“I got fouled. I got fouled and the refs didn’t call it.”

Jordan Stowers

On the start with all seniors…
“Well, we had an interesting practice. We got a lot out on the table, and we knew we needed to play with intensity because that’s what we’ve been lacking. We knew if we came out and played with intensity, we could win, and he gave us a chance to prove that this was our team. We have 10 games left that we need to go out there and win. As seniors, we’re not in the tournament right now, and we’ve got to win. We need to win all 10 to make sure we get in the tournament. So, we came out and played with fire today.”

On looking for more shots...

Before the game, coach called Sean and me in and told us what the lineup and game plan would be. He said, ‘Look, you two are going to have to score.’ We know that teams are going to double off us with Kelsey and Purdon outside, so we just drove to the basket. If they are going to give us wide open looks, it’s up to us to knock them down.”

On his first-half performance…
“ It’s not only the best half that we’ve played, but probably the most exciting for the fans and for the team ourselves. It’s great when you are out there having fun, especially when you are winning by 25. Even if we played the same way and we’re up 10 or 11 points at the half, it’s still just as much fun to go out there and play.”