Fresno State Athletics
QUOTES: Fresno State 71, Wyoming 60
1/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Rodney Terry, Fresno State Head Coach
On holding Wyoming scoreless for seven minutes in the second half…
"Our guys kept working the game. I thought they came out in the second half and really did a nice job defensively for us. We knew coming into this game that shooter defense was our number one priority; this is a really good shooting team. Wyoming made some shots early; they were around 54 percent at the half. Our defense gave us the chance to play the offense that we wanted to play."
"This is something we've tried to buy into all year, in terms of a tough defense being part of our identity. When we got back from winter break we talked about how defense wins games for you, and defense travels."
On defeating Wyoming's zone defense…
"We took shots on our terms. Our guys did a really nice job of coming down the floor and executing. It was critical that we didn't have empty possessions and we got a shot every time we went down the floor."
On the team making key situational plays to take and keep the lead…
"We have really grown over the last five ball games. Offensively, we've improved our poise in being able to execute a play and finish on our terms. That's been a big growth for us."
On Cullen Russo's development…
"Since we got back from winter break he has really bought into our culture. He's doing what we're asking him to do. Sometimes with transfer players it takes them awhile to adapt, I think he's done that, in terms of playing hard and trying to understand what we need him to do. He's an instinctive player. The more and more his work ethic gets better the more growth you'll see in his game. I was asked the other day where I thought his ceiling was, where I though he could go, and what type of player he could be. It all depends on him and his work ethic. He can be as good as he wants to be"
On the Fresno State coaching staff supporting cancer awareness tonight…
"This week is cancer awareness week. Obviously, we've all been affected by cancer. It's a nasty disease. It's a disease that the more research, awareness, and people that get involved to find a cure for it; we want to push for that. It's a simple gesture for us as coaches to wear sneakers with our suits."
Marvelle Harris, Senior Guard
On how confident he felt tonight…
"I felt very confident. I took an ice bath and took care of my body when we go back from Air Force. I got in the gym, shot, and worked on my game."
On becoming the third all time scorer in Fresno State history…
"It means a lot, but we want to focus on the team win tonight. That is something I'm grateful for but the victory is for the team."
On matching up against Josh Adams…
"It was a great challenge. Paul (Watson) took on the challenge of guarding him, and he did a great job. We knew that me going at him or him going at me wasn't going to work. It was playing team ball that was going to win the game for us."
On having a great second half against a zone defense…
"We stepped into our shots, we were confident, and there were a lot of guys working it. No one wants to leave the gym."
Paul Watson, Junior Guard/Forward
On guarding Josh Adams…
"I thought I made a great effort to stay in front of Josh, but it was more of a team challenge. Coach told us from the beginning that it wasn't going to be just one guy guarding him; it was going to be a team effort. I did take on the challenge but my guys had my back."
"I could tell that when I started to climb into him he started getting frustrated, especially the way he was talking to his teammates. That's what I was after."
