WMU - Toledo Post Game Quotes

Head Coach Steve Hawkins

Opening Statement

“The biggest part of the night for myself was getting a win on senior night. To send these three guys out with a win at home was just tremendous. The seniors played well, Jared gave us good minutes, Anthony was his typical solid self and Perry had what was probably his best game of the year. We needed it all and when Perry plays like that it makes us a very dangerous basketball team. I thought it was very fitting that Taylor knocked down the two free-throws at the end that were huge for us. Very happy with our effort and everyone who came off the bench contributed. We did what we had to do and executed the game plan. It was great for us to pick up a win.”

On Seniors

“All three of those seniors are amongst the most well liked guys on the team and to see Taylor have that great of a game was why you coach, he is one of the kindest souls on the face of the earth. The first three plays of the game were designed for each of our seniors and I though that Taylor asserted himself early on.”

On Defense 

“We talked about getting more deflections out of our defense this past week. We felt like we really needed to focus on our defense and see if that would lead to offense. I thought we did a good job on how aggressive we were defensively and we were able to turn our defense into offense.”

On McCormick, Dugan and LaMont

“All three of our big guys were big for us tonight. Kellen didn't have a great shooting night but he picked up some rebounds and did some things defensively for us. Seth was massive for us, just outstanding and Drake was good tonight as well. We were tossed around last time at their place, Garber and Boothe are big strong guys and we didn't want to allow that to happen tonight. We had to play more physical and I thought that as we started to get more aggressive and play more downhill good things happened. In my opinion Boothe is the best player in the league and Seth battled all night and made him fight for every inch on the court and that is how you have to play him.”

On Taylor Perry

“To see Taylor play well on senior night and to see the smile on his face, that is why you coach. Taylor has been through ups and downs, he has been a part of a championship team and he has seen wins and losses and to have him come through on senior night was tremendous. Nothing has been easy for him these four years and he is just effort personified so to see it payoff tonight was special.”

Taylor Perry

“It is always great to win your last game at home and I just wanted to help send my teammates out on a good note. I wanted my last game to be my best and I feel like that was the case. I have only taken one or two charges my whole career so those three charges were huge for me. This has been the best four years of my life, I am going to miss these guys but we still have a few more game left.”

Thomas Wilder

“We wanted to send our seniors out on a high note, the people that come before you put in blood, sweat and tears and it was just great to get the win for them. Without Taylor tonight we wouldn't have had a chance, he was aggressive and had big impact on the game. We know what we are capable, we have nothing to lose and we are just embracing being an underdog.”