Dec. 28, 2005

Recap |  Final Stats |  Notes

Head Coach Stan Joplin

"Oakland is a completely different team with the addition of Billings and Severova. They're pretty athletic and we were concerned with Calvin Wooten but our defense played well and kept us in there. We're doing a good job defensively and taking care of the ball but we need to do a better job rebounding. Jonathan Amos gave us a great shot in the arm on the defensive end our defense was the reason we won tonight."

(on coming away with a win when not playing their best)

"Oakland really took it to us in the first half and came up with a lot of loose balls. We were relying too much on the three-point shot but we fought back and our defensive intensity helped us come away with the win."

Junior guard Justin Ingram

(on coming away with the win late)

"It wasn't a real pretty game but a win is a win and that's what you want. Good teams find a way to win and that's what we did tonight."

(on the importance of coming from behind to win)

"It shows that we have a lot of confidence in each other and that we'll do whatever it takes to get a victory. We didn't hit any threes tonight but our defense came through for us and helped us get the win."

(on defending the homecourt)

"We haven't lost too many home games since I've been here. We want people to know that when you come to Savage Hall that if you don't play your best game you aren't going to win. We have a lot of confidence playing at home and we have to take that on the road."

Sophomore guard Kashif Payne

(on limiting Calvin Wooten to 12 points, half his scoring average)

"The coaches wanted me to limit his touches and play him tough away from the ball. I just wanted to create havoc and try to tire him out. He's a great player and I just wanted to slow him down a little."

(on having Justin Ingram at the line with a one-point lead)

"I knew he was going to make them. He's been hitting them all year and our team has great confidence in him. We expect that from him."

(on having to fight to get the win)

"We came a little slow but coach stayed on us to keep digging. We weren't hitting our shots but we kept playing strong defense and that's how we came out with the win."