WESTERN MICHIGAN at CENTRAL MICHIGAN QUOTES

Guard David Kool

(On the difference in the final eight minutes) "It was a back-and-forth game. Exactly what we expected. We knew they were going to stay around. On Senior Night, their seniors stepped up and made some plays. Down the stretch we had some good shots, but just didn't make all of them. Some turnovers and offensive rebounds down the stretch hurt us too."

(Thoughts on where the Broncos will finish in MAC race) "It's getting down to the end of the season and it's hard not to think about it. We really don't know what is going to happen. We can only control what we can control and that's winning our last game and even up our MAC record and hope for the best. We're just going to concentrate on ourselves and getting better."

Guard Mike Douglas

(On making both three-pointers) "I was just confident. It's more a confidence factor and I was confident today."

(On guarding Robbie Harman) "He's got a real quick release, so when he comes off screens it's kind of hard to take that. He just executed today and made shots. I tried pressuring him, but he just executed better."

WMU Head Coach Steve Hawkins

(On the game) "I thought the real story of the game was our offensive inpatience. We knew we wanted to ball screen. We had a lot of success in the first game setting ball screens because their big guys don't move well. We put a lot of pressure on the rim in that first game. In the second half, they guarded it a little better and we showed a lack of patience against that. We were still trying to score off the first ball screen. We just didn't show enough patience and that led to ... some fast break opportunities for them. That's where Bitzer and Harman found themselves.

"We did a really good job of guarding their sets, which is what they are. They are a set-oriented team. When they shook free in that critical stretch where we had some offensive inpatience."

CMU Head Coach Ernie Zeigler

(On the game) "You have to give Western credit. Western is a tough team and very well-coached team. We've had nothing but battles with them. All we've had are hard fought games. In a rivalry like this, two very well-coached teams, you're going to see kids battle and you saw a level of physicality throughout the night. I thought we responded and were able to prevail."

(On David Kool and limiting him down the stretch) "I thought we did a better job of crowding him when he put the ball on the floor. He's such an exceptional player. He's such a tough guard. He can shoot it and at the same time put it on the floor and get his own shot. Last season, in the same fashion, he willed them to a win in the conference opener. He's very capable of taking over. All you can do is make him take contested shots."

(On Flenard Whitfield) "I think he is playing with a lot more confidence. It's very clear to me as Western moves on from the David Kool era ... that Flenard Whitfield has to be the next guy we worry about in this rivalry. He's a tough guard because as a four man he can turn and face and he can drive you. I'm happy for Flen to see his game evolve the way it has."