Oklahoma Postgame Quotes

Oklahoma State head coach Brad Underwood

On Oklahoma's efforts tonight:
"What a game. You have to give Lon Kruger and his crew a tremendous amount of credit. That's a very very good Oklahoma team. They were tremendous tonight, they had great energy. Rashard Evans had a terrific night and he was a match up problem."

On Jawun Evans:
"Best player on the floor. We isolated him in a bunch of different spots and let him go to work. It wasn't one of his ideal games but that shows his true character."

On Oklahoma State's defense down the stretch:
"We finally settled down the last five or six minutes. We put some zone in and that changed the tempo of the game."

On the sell-out crowd at Gallagher-Iba Arena:
"We don't win without it, there's no question. That adrenaline when you're tired and the flow of the game. We literally don't win without the packed house, and the student section being rowdy. That's what I envisioned when I came here. It was pretty special."

Oklahoma State guard Jawun Evans

On the second half of play:
"I feel like I became more aggressive in the second half. I was looking more than I was in the first half. I got the looks that I was looking for when we needed it, and coach called the right plays."

On scoring 16 straight points:
"Confidence. Having that confidence in myself and knowing that I can make the shots. I have been working on it by being in the gym. Shooting reps, reps, reps and it finally just came. I was so involved in the game that I didn't know that. I was just playing and just trying to get the win."

On the Bedlam rivalry:
"I like big games like this. Rivalry games. I live for it. It's what I wake up for every day. Basketball. Rivalry games. Big games."

Oklahoma State guard Phil Forte, III

On Jawun Evans' 16 straight points:
"That doesn't surprise me. Wow. I didn't know that either. It's impressive."

On OSU's first Bedlam sweep since 2004:
"It is great just to share that moment with the fans after the game. The team--that is what it is all about. That's what makes this moment so special. Oklahoma is a really good team. They are very talented, and that game could have went either way."

On being down during most of the game:
"I think offensively, we thought we were fine. We knew we were going to score. That wasn't really the problem. We just knew we had to get a couple stops. That is what we would preach during timeouts. If we could just get two or three in a row, we felt like we could chip back at it. I think you have to give OU credit. They made some good shots, and they just work on defense. It was a really back and forth game. Two teams just imposing their will on each other."

On the fans:
"It was probably the most fun I have had playing in a game since I've been here. Just how we feed off the energy. The fans are great, and I hope they can kind of see how much of a difference it makes. When we were down and trying to come back, their energy, trying to bring us back in the game, really makes the world of difference. I can't say thank you enough for helping us get the win tonight."

On Marcus Smart's presence:
"That was awesome. I am just very thankful for it. He came back on his All-Star break. He could've been anywhere in the country. He could've taken a vacation. That is what a lot of guys do, but he came back to Stillwater. It speaks to our friendship, and also how much he loves coming back and how much he loves this place. It meant the world to me to see him there supporting me. Obviously, when he shows up, I want to impress him."

On this finish to his Bedlam career:
"It cannot be any better than this. We got two wins. Both games were a dogfight, and that is kind of how this rivalry is. We've been on the short end on the stick for the past couple of years. It's always been close, and it could've gone either way. We were fortunate to be on the other side."

On turning the season around:
"It speaks to the attitude of this team. The perseverance. We didn't give up. We didn't make excuses. We didn't complain. Our playing just got better every day in practice. We still have four games left of the regular season, so we definitely aren't done. We can enjoy this game tonight, obviously. We are off tomorrow. Monday, we have to get ready for a K-State team. It never ends. Every night you have to be ready to go or you will get popped. We can enjoy this one for a little bit, then get ready to play another big game."

Oklahoma Head Coach Lon Kruger opening statement:
"Good battle, obviously. I felt like both teams laid it out there and did a good job. I felt like our guys fought like crazy. Obviously, they finished plays where we didn't and we have to keep working to finish things out. Evans had a terrific stretch there late. We didn't get a handle on him. We played hard, played well. We fought like crazy and it was a terrific basketball game."

On Jawun Evans' late game stretch:
"He made some mid-range jumpers, made some 3s. He is a terrific player. Our guys, well, we didn't have him under control by any means, certainly we didn't late. he made the plays he needed to late. But really good players do."

On the crowd:
"Crowd was great. I thought it was a fantastic atmosphere. Brad does a such a great job in his short time. Crowd was fantastic. Anytime you got a crowd like that it definitely plays a role."

On Phil Forte:
"Fantastic career. If he wasn't on the other team, he would be a guy, not that I don't cheer for him, but he has everything you want from a fan's perspective and a coach's perspective. All the intangibles and a terrific young guys and a great competitor. Obviously, a record-setting shooter. He has had a fantastic career."

Oklahoma Guard Rashard Odomes

On the offense falling off in the last four minutes:
"I can't tell you honestly. We need to execute and go up strong with the ball."

On his offensive success:
"Just getting minutes with my teammates. They gave me energy and I gave them energy. I said I'd fight for them and they would fight for me."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jawun Evans

Phil Forte, III

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