Oklahoma State University Athletics
Post-Game Quotes
February 18, 2015 | Cowboy Basketball
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No. 14 Iowa State at No. 22 Oklahoma State
Feb. 18, 2015 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, Okla.
Post-Game Quotes
Final Score: Iowa State 70, Oklahoma State 65
Oklahoma State Coach Travis Ford
On allowing Iowa State so many second-chance points:
"It's the only difference it the game. It's the bottom line. There is really nothing else to talk about in the game but that. They just out-toughed us in the paint. They had one player that was so much better than anyone else we had in the paint, and that's very disappointing. He was jumping twice before we were even jumping one time. He just destroyed us in the paint. One guy, basically. Give their team credit, but everything else, we did well. That one thing is the difference in the game, and that's disappointing because we had guys in there that could've done the job."
On being unable to score in the final two minutes of the game:
"They miss, get the offensive rebound and put it back to make (the lead) three. We didn't get the critical stop down the stretch. We had the lead and they went on a 9-0 run, but the second shots are the difference."
On the difference between the two teams in the game:
"We just got out-toughed, plain and simple. We had our opportunities. It wasn't like bad bounces or anything like that. They just wanted it more. For whatever reason, our guys just weren't competing in the paint or competing for offensive rebounds. I don't think that (Jameel McKay) is that much better than us, but he was tonight."
On having different guys step up to score the ball tonight:
"It's going to be tough when your two leading scorers go 7-for-24. They didn't get a lot done there, but again, it was offensive rebounding. We still scored 65 points with (Forte and Nash) shooting the way they shot."
On Jeff Newberry's would-be tying shot late in the game:
"He was about the third option. We were trying to get Phil (Forte) a shot off two screens from our big guys. I guess (Newberry) could've been the second (option), because after that we wanted Forte to drive and kick it at that point. He was going to draw a lot of help. It's as good of a shot as you can expect that late. We had our opportunities, but they just out-toughed us in the paint."
On bouncing back next game against West Virginia:
"We don't have a choice. We've got to get ready. We have to get this one on Saturday. We don't have a choice but to get ready and move on."
Oklahoma State Guard Jeff Newberry
On Iowa State's play on the last few minutes
"They had some downhill plays, but they're a good team. They hit some tough shots down the stretch, and we probably could have pressured a little bit more. "
On a stagnant offense the last few minutes
"They started hitting the ball screens and coming off of them. We had that pick there, so we had what we wanted. We just didn't execute."
On the plan for the last shot
"The plan was for Phil (Forte) to make a play. It just ended up with me getting the shot. It felt good when I let it go, it was just short."
On where the team is going into Saturday's game against West Virginia
"It puts us in the same mindset that we're always in. We take it a game at a time. We fought hard in this one, but we didn't come out on the winning side. We're getting ready for Saturday. We can't dwell on a loss."
On the difficulty of facing West Virginia
"It gets tough, but this part of the season you just fight every game. At this point you can't just sit and dwell on a game. You can't go back. We've got to get back to work tomorrow and get ready for Saturday."
On an uneven offensive game
"I wouldn't say that. (Le'Bryan Nash) and Phil (Forte) had a slow start, and me and Hickey were hitting in the first half. We knew that they were going to come out and be aggressive. We encourage them to be aggressive and put some points on the board, and they came out in the second half being aggressive. Phil was getting to the line. LB was doing what he did, and that's just the way it went."
On the difficulty to defend Iowa State
"They like to get deep outlets in transition. They like to get the ball out. Even if you score, they're trying to get the ball out fast, so it's real important to get back on defense. They've got three-point shooters like Naz Long, (Matt) Thomas and those type of guys, so it's difficult with Monté Morris going downhill. It's tough, but if you get back in transition and stay in front of them, you have a chance to guard them."
Iowa State Coach Fred Hoiberg
On pushing through the final two minutes
"I thought we played with great poise in those last couple minutes. We went down four, had a good play, made a good basket and then had a stop. Monte (Morris) came down and found Dustin (Hogue) in the corner, and he obviously stepped up and hit a good shot. I think the keys in winning on the road are when you get 18 offensive rebounds and your opponent only has four. That gives you a fighting chance, especially on nights where we didn't shoot our best. We were 6-of-20 from the three-point line. We did do a good job in the paint, outscoring them, 34-14. We were taking what the defense gave us. I give our guys a lot of credit. They stayed together the entire 40 minutes. It wasn't looking great when Georges (Niang) went out with his fourth foul, but the guys found a way to stay together and make plays. Jameel McKay had a pretty impressive game."
On ISU's defensive plan
"LeBryan Nash is such a tough guard. Even those shots he hit were over an extended arm. We tried to make him work and take tough shots, knowing that he would make tough ones. He's an absolute load in the paint. We wanted to use McKay and use his length to make him take those tough shots. I thought we did a solid job on Phil Forte. That's a very good basketball team that was hitting shots. Jeff Newberry was unbelievable tonight. That was a very good win for our team tonight."
On getting another road win
"They never doubted each other. A lot of things were said about us. We lost to Baylor by one, and that's a tough place to play. We lost at Oklahoma and at Kansas, two of the better teams not only in our league but also in the country. We also lost a tough one at Texas Tech. So it's good. You get the monkey off your back a little bit. We've had three really good road wins: Iowa, West Virginia and now Oklahoma State. Hopefully it gives us a little confidence going into this tough schedule."
