Jan. 16, 2014
UALR 87, WKU 83 (OT)January 16, 2014
Bowling Green, Ky. (E.A. Diddle Arena)
HEAD COACH Ray Harper
On playing without T.J. Price:
"I thought we played hard enough. We had opportunities. We let some golden opportunities slip through our fingers tonight. You've got to be able to execute, take care of the basketball and make big plays. Give them credit, that's what they did down the stretch. They made plays. (Will) Neighbour, (Josh) Hagins, and (Kemy) Osse, they made shots. A couple were contested. They made five threes in the game, and I think two or three of those were late."
On Aleksej Rostov:
"I thought he looked like the old Alex. He played with a lot of energy, and he was active. I don't know if we're going to get 20 (points) every night, but I've said all along we should get double figures. We need him to get some defensive rebounds. He's still not rebounding the ball like we need him to. For the most part, he did well tonight."
On Rostov's shooting helping open up the offense:
"Anytime you've got another guy that can make shots, it helps. The thing with Alex is that he really knows how to play. He can pass the ball, he understands what we're trying to do on the offensive end, so it's good to have him playing like he played tonight."
On Arkansas State:
"I haven't seen them yet. We'll talk about them here in a minute. I just know they're very, very talented. They shoot the ball as well from three as anyone in the country. It will be a tall task for us Saturday night."
JUNIOR GUARD Kevin Kaspar
On if losing this game stings or gives the team confidence going forward:
"It stings, kind of. If you play hard, you want to win at the end of the game. I think we played hard enough, but we just couldn't close it. We'll have to go back to work tomorrow and get ready for Arkansas State."
On playing without T.J. Price:
"We didn't know before the game. We came up as a team. If one man is down, we just have to do it as a whole team. Every game is like that. One man can't get it done for the game. It has to be the whole team. We came as a team, but we just couldn't close it."
SOPHOMORE CENTER Aleksej Rostov
On if he felt he needed to step up in the absence of George Fant due to foul trouble:
"George (Fant) got a lot of fouls because of my poor close-outs. He tried to cover up for me. I didn't really feel any pressure, when I was open, I shot the shot, and when I wasn't, I passed the ball. Luckily, it was going in."
