Feb 8, 2003

Recap | Final Stats | Notes

Head Coach Stan Joplin

"You have to give Eastern credit because they made some three and free throws down the stretch. I don't think we made the plays down the stretch necessary to win the game. We missed free throws and turned the ball over down the stretch and I have to somehow do a better job and make sure we get better in those areas."

"We gave a really good effort tonight but we're kind of snakebit right now. We just need something positive to happen, and the only thing positive that can is a win. I think that would give the players a shot in the arm and that's what we desperately need."

"We're going through a tough time now but it's not going to last. The players have to be tough and dig in. We're not shooting the ball like we did previously. We had shots but they didn't drop. We just have to continue to work. The West Division is so wide open and we're just losing so many close games. It has to go in our favor sooner or later but it's not. We just have to stay positive because the players are working hard."

On A.J. Shellabarger's play:

"A.J. should be able to do that. It was probably the best game he's played against a pretty good player in Ryan Prillman. Now he has to do that consistently."

Junior center A.J. Shellabarger

"I just took what the defense gave me. My man helped out on the other guys and all I had to do was finish and that's the easy job. We just have to come out and play better defense next time and try to shut our opponents down completely and not worry about anything else."

On losing so many close games:

"It's more of a mental thing now. We know we can win and what we can do. We know what we're capable of. We just have to come out and do it and play to our potential. If we do that like we did earlier this season we can win games."

Junior guard Keith Triplett:

"I'm not frustrated yet about losing these games because I know we're going to start winning. The most important thing is to start playing well and try to still win the West Division. I don't really feel that any team that has beat us is better than us. We have just lost our focus and come up short at the end of these games."