University of Memphis Athletics
Postgame Quotes
Jan 11, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2012
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Memphis (11-5, 2-0) 60, (Southern Miss 15-3, 2-1) 58
January 11, 2012
FedExForum (Memphis, Tenn.)
Postgame Quotes
Memphis Head Coach Josh Pastner
Opening Statement
Well, we won the game today for two reasons: free throw shooting - those were big free throws by Tarik Black and Chris Crawford at the end - and then we got stops when we needed them. We held them to 35 percent from the field, 28 percent from three, which our goals are to hold teams under 40 percent from the field and under 30 from three. We were even in the rebounding battle, 36-36. We still had a few too many turnovers.
We really had it in control 41-29, but we got stagnant offensively and didn't convert on some things. Then we didn't execute and made some boneheaded plays. But, towards the end, we made some plays and made some shots. Chris Crawford made a big bucket as did Will Barton. They both hit buckets down the stretch. We won the game because of defense like I said.
Talk about Southern Miss rallying despite being down big in the 2nd half.
Now let me tell you this - Southern Miss is a good team. I think everyone agrees they are a good team. We got a lead, and then they hit some threes against the zone. The zone worked well for us, but they hit a couple threes, and we got out of it and went back and forth.
I'm just glad we won the game. That last shot looked good. He got open. We were supposed to be switching on that, and we didn't. There was some miscommunication. Then, we did a good job making sure on the rebound they didn't get an outback. Usually, it's the second shot that beats you.
The basketball gods were looking over us on that one. That was a good win for the Tigers and we start out 2-0 in conference.  
Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Eustachy
Opening Statement
Well let’s address the situation, I really thought that the elephant in the room was fouling late in the game with the scored tied. During the time out, we made it really clear that we were going to make our free throws and then we had to get a stop. We just got caught up in the game.
We all make mistakes, and I am sure I made a few, but it was a heck of an effort tonight. It is crazy, just how we are (one) play away from getting this thing done. But, I think it will make our team better.
We had guys who could play a lot better. The zone bothered us, but we played into their hands a little bit. When we did play the way that we were supposed to play, we really got them. We made some stops, and we know what they can and can’t do. When we did it right, we can play right with them. This team (Memphis) is no better than us, and we knew that going in.
On shooting 28 three-point shots throughout the game
I think that is getting caught up in this place (FedExForum) that is like no other place in the league. I’ll say this, I hear “Can you win the league?” and “You know, football won the league.” Football doesn’t have Alabama in the league. This (FedExForum) is Alabama. There were 18,000 people here, and you saw how loud it got. Part of it (shooting so many threes) was getting caught up in a top-10 college basketball atmosphere, and just quick-shooting it sometimes. Other times, it is just who we are. We don’t match-up greatly to them, and we knew that. We are smaller, and we have a lot of heart. We have a lot of fight.
Our players listen to our coaches. I am very proud of our guys. We left it all on the court, but we could have played better.
On contending throughout the second half
You know, I really thought that we were going to win this thing. I believe in our guys. But, you know what kind of talent is on the other end of this thing (Memphis). So for us to get our program to a point where we can come onto this court and play them the way that we played them, consistently, is something to be proud of. Just No. 35 (Adonis Thomas) was (one of) the top-ranked player(s) in the country. We held him to only six points. That is the number one player. That is like getting whoever in football, I don’t know, the Honey Badger or someone. Or whoever it is. I am just very proud of our guys.
Mo (Maurice Bolden) and (Darnell) Dodson – he is coming, Dodson is coming—are 1-for10, and that is hard to absorb.
