WESTERN MICHIGAN-UNLV QUOTES

Head coach Steve Hawkins

(On the game) "We knew coming in that UNLV was a tremendous defensive team. They ignite so much of their offense from their defense and they were able to do that today. They created 18 turnovers and I thought that was the difference in the game.

"We have a very young team, just like UNLV. We've been growing, growing and growing, and at some point in time you just wish for the kids so badly that they can get a result for their hard work. We've lost so many close games. It was a very hard-fought game and UNLV made the plays down the stretch offensively and defensively.

We were competing against a team that was preseason Top 25 by a lot of people. They found out again another lesson from the school of hard knocks, which is if you compete like this you can play with anybody. Hopefully, we can take that and build on it, instead of going back and saying we played hard in one game. If we had played this hard and really competed like this and did some things offensively and defensively execution-wise in several of the games this year, we would've had more to show for it, but I do think it was another example of what we could be like if we play well."

(On being worried about the team's confidence if they don't experience success soon) "I worry about them and I worry about me too. It's very, very difficult for all of us to work this hard and watch a great group of kids play so hard and not get a result. They are really battling. I've tried to be positive with them and before the game told them that there is nobody in the Mid-American Conference in a position to win an at-large berth (to the NCAA Tournament). All of this comes down to what starts happening on January 10 and we have to continue to grow as a basketball team and we've got to compete and they did it. They competed in a hostile environment, in front of a lot of people. I was proud of their effort, I just wish they could get a different result."

(On playing in the Western part of the United States and the different style of basketball) "There's a couple of things about that. Number one, it is without question a softer brand of basketball. Without question, it is a different brand. It's just called so much tighter, but at the same time it does teach you to move your feet. I think that we can gain from that and learning how to play with foul trouble and how to play smarter when you do get into foul trouble and when you experience tough elements like what happened here today can help you grow. I think we were a better basketball team for going to Oregon last year. Today, I think we can take a lot away from this basketball game and one thing we can take away is that when you do get into foul trouble, you have to play smarter basketball. You've got to be able to adjust and we didn't do a good enough job of that in the second half."

(On playing in Las Vegas) "It's a tremendous experience. We got everything we needed out of it, except for the win, of course. It's a great experience and the Orleans is a tremendous place and great atmosphere. The UNLV people have been very hospitable to us and the city of Las Vegas has also been very hospitable to us. So it's a great experience for our kids. We would've loved to go home with a win, but we got a lot out of this game against a very good basketball team."

Senior guard Andre Ricks

(On playing for the first time in almost a month) "There was a little adrenaline rush because I haven't been out there in a while. Coach called my name and I was excited to be out there, but the main thing is that I just wanted to help the team as much as I can."

(On how his wrist feels) "When I was out there it was pretty sore. I just tried my hardest to fight through it."

Junior guard David Kool

(On what was the difference in the game) "Just a couple of key situations. The end of the first half and the beginning of the second half we just let off the gas a little bit. Coach talked about us getting a little fatigued maybe and we slipped up on the defensive side of the ball. We let their pick-and-roll game get to us."

Senior forward Derek Drews

(On the game) "I think we competed well. Our major problem this year has been competing for 40 minutes and we competed and tonight shows that even though we competed we still have to execute. It's not going to be 100 percent effort that gets the job done. 

(On his performance scoring a game-high 19 points) "I was able to get some open looks early and get into the flow of the game quick and just shooting with confidence is the biggest thing. Finding open spots and moving without the ball to get open is big for me and my teammates were able to hit me today."

(On this game being a moral victory, collectively and individually) "We're not going to be content until we start winning. Our program hasn't been prided on moral victories in the past. We want those win numbers to get up and to do that we have to get our confidence up and give the effort that we gave and pick up the execution.

"I've never been the kind of player that has a good game and is (happy even though the team lost). If I didn't score today and we won I would be the happiest person in that locker room, so I'm not about personal victories either."