Marshall University Athletics
Marshall-UNCG Coach/Player Quotes
11/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2006
Marshall head coach Ron Jirsa
"We fought hard tonight and showed that we won't give up. We were able to get a hand on the ball and get some steals at the end and then were able to make some free throws. It was a team effort, but I want us to understand that we have to keep doing what we have been working on.
"I give credit to UNCG. Mike Dement does a great job and had them well prepared and they played well. I am glad to win the game.
"Travis Aikens was a big difference for us. He was a big catalyst. Our guys see that if he is fearless, then we can be too. He's really come a long way and has settled down. It's a tough transition from junior college and he is playing a little more relaxed. I'm proud of where he's come to and I hope he can sustain it."
On the post play
"We got some good game experience for Jean Francois (Bro Grebe) and Jesse (Oglesby) played well when he was in there. The key to this team is what we can do in the post. Jean Francois had a big block at the end and Robbie (Jackson) had a good layup. Everyone did a little to help out, and we need to sustain that."
Markel Humphrey
"We were down a lot and fought back. We kept our composure and were able to make it a game."
On Aikens
"I saw him getting frustrated early and I told him to keep shooting. He kept working and made some good plays and stepped up for us."
On his free throws at the end of regulation
"I'll be honest that my stomach was all the way to the floor. I didn't want anyone even talking to me. I was thinking about all the free throws we shoot in the morning and at practice. When I hit all three, it was a big relief for me."
On the comeback
"Mark Dorris is a big talker and was saying that we could fight back. The momentum turned at the right time for us."
Travis Aikens
"We shoot free throws in the morning and then in practice. We missed a lot early but when it came to crunch time we knocked them down. It's big to hit them in crunch time, but if we hit them earlier it probably would not have been as close of a game."
On his adjustments in the second half
"I started taking what the defense gave me. In the first half I was frustrated, but I cooled down in the second half and passed the ball more and when they gave me a chance to go, I took advantage."
UNC Greensboro head coach Mike Dement
"It was a hard-fought game by both teams, but it was a tough one to lose. We were in good position in regulation but we missed some shots and had some turnovers at the end. Kyle (Hines) played well for us, but we need help from other places. We had some good looks from other places.
"It was a good experience for both teams in the first game. With the overtime game, there were lots of situations that you can't experience in practice. There were situations that came up like foul trouble and getting the ball in bounds that will be valuable to both teams."
Kyle Hines
On the changes Marshall made against him in the second half
"They showed more double teams against me. They paid a lot more attention to me. They tried to be tougher on me and body up on me."
