IONA-WESTERN MICHIGAN QUOTES

Western Michigan junior guard David Kool

(On ending the four-game losing streak) "It feels good to get a positive result out of all the hard work we've been putting in. The past couple weeks we've really been going hard in practice. Day in and day out. Even coming in twice a day to work out individually and as a team. It really showed tonight. That just lets everybody know that our work is coming and if we keep working, we'll keep getting good results."

(On the reserves) "The bench probably played the best game of the year. They came in and brought us great energy. They executed for us. They played great defense. I think that was the key to get us going in the first half."

Western Michigan junior center Donald Lawson

(On the performance of the inside players) "We just actually had to take our time. Coach Bacari Alexander constantly works with us, low waistband, take your time and make an efficient post move. Don't rush. We got Kool a couple of early shots and that kind of opened it up for the inside."

(On the team's defense) "That's a big key. The Bronco program is all about defense. That's how we trigger our fast break. We get a stop here and then we go down and run on them. We get a stop there and go run on them." 

Western Michigan freshman forward Flenard Whitfield

(On being less of a freshman) "The freshman time is over. To me, I'm no longer a freshman. I consider myself a veteran because I've been playing so much. I should be used to the college-level pace."

Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins

(On how the team has played since losing at Holy Cross) "Since that time I think we've improved. That part of things is obvious. We had a couple of good days of practice leading up to UNLV and once we got out there we had a really solid effort against a good basketball team. Tonight, it's the first time we've put together 40 minutes back-to-back of effort. We didn't always play smart in the UNLV game or this game here. We turned the ball over too much and there was some times we pushed the basketball when nothing was there. Even though we were getting stops defensively, we weren't real efficient offensively at times.

"The thing I loved about tonight's game was that it reminded me of some of our other teams. Regardless of what we did on offense, we were able to get stops and limit them to one shot on the defensive end.

"Overall, it was a good, solid 40 minutes of effort."

(On closing out the first half strong) "We were able to close out the first half and not relinquish the lead. I think there is a direct correlation between that right there and the fact those guys (Kool, Redell, Drews) didn't have to play that many minutes. We have to get their minutes down. Our system works best if we get those minutes down. If you look back at 26-5 team, not a single player averaged 30 minutes a game and Mike Williams was Player of the Year and Ben Reed was First Team All-MAC. Our system works best when we can bring in fresh bodies, get out and run and defend and keep running bodies at you.

"Today, it was a blessing in disguise to have those kids in foul trouble because we're fresh for the second half and our bench was fresh for the second half.

"We felt that we got good minutes out of Demetrius Ward and Mike Douglas, plus Flenard Whitfield and Martelle McLemore."

(On Flenard Whitfield and Donald Lawson's performance) "Huge, huge part of the game. We had an inside presence tonight. The guys combined for 20 points and nine rebounds and they stayed out of foul trouble. They played good minutes and they went to the offensive glass. Even though they combined for only three offensive rebounds, there were a number of times that they kept the ball alive and guards chased it down and that, again, looked like Bronco Basketball. It gave us some extra possessions on the offensive end."