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20/20 BAYLOR 69 (20-7/8-6), Kansas State 42 (13-15/6-9)
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015
Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas)
Attendance: 8,046

BAYLOR POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach Scott Drew
Opening Statement:
"I thought the crowd helped us get off to a great start. We were really energetic on the defensive end, and I really thought we shared the ball extremely well today. The only hiccup was the beginning of the second half, when we didn't get as many deflections. We turned the ball over and got them in transition, but we had enough stops, so that they never got close enough to where they could take the lead or tie it. Then we were able to stop turning it over, and once we got going we got going."

On the strong finish after the lull to start the second half:
"I would like to stop seeing the lull at the start of the second half. The last couple of games that has been a trouble area for us at home and this year, again great with the recovery. I love how we guarded during that time, because when we played Oklahoma State or some other games here this year we allowed people to take the lead. We had a big enough lead that we were able to take a punch. Coach Weber's teams are never going to give up. They are going to fight you until the end. They are never going to give you anything. You are always going to have to beat them. I really thought we did a good job tonight taking the ball to the basket and getting them in foul trouble. We only shot two threes in the second half, but we were able to be really efficient."

On if he was surprised at all about how dominate the win was today:
"I am very surprised, because the last four games have come down to last shot except for one where we won big in overtime. I think that is how the games were approached knowing it was going to be a close game and preparing for a close game. I think we were able to task enough to where it wasn't close. I think that is the key, when you go in and under estimate. You start taking quick shots or bad shots or uncharacteristic plays I think that is how you are in a position where you can't pull away. I am very pleased with us when we got in a position in the second half, we were able to build on the lead and not relinquish it with some plays that allowed them to get back in it."

On the help provided by getting more playing minutes from reserves:
"It definitely helps when you bring in the bench. (Taurean) Prince has been so good for a while, but Al (Freeman) was tremendous today. When you are getting that kind of support off the bench. Ish (Wainright) didn't score, but he had four assists. When you are getting people off the bench that are giving minutes like that it allows us to continue to be aggressive on the defensive end. I think we got our hands on a lot of basketballs today because of it."

Junior F Rico Gathers
On getting off to a quick start:
"I think it is just the feeling of playing at home. We had all of our fans into and I feel like the players were feeling it. To get off to the best shooting start is really what helped us to sustain our lead."

On the strong finish:
"We came out to a slow start in the second half, and we weren't hitting any shots. We were just turning the ball over. We came out of the second or third meeting and made sure we buckled down on defense, and just shared the ball and moved the ball around. We had 24 assists and 10 turnovers tonight. If you move around the ball like that, that well, that is great basketball."

On how their defense frustrated them as the game went on:
"We really focused in on the shooters tonight. When we went out there to contest, they didn't get as many looks as they would have liked. They didn't get as many open shots as they did when we played them up there in Manhattan. When you are able to do that it basically keeps the game out of reach, because once you get shooters going that's when you can cut into a lead."

Junior F Taurean Prince
On how they recovered from the lull to start the second half:
"We played defense. That is what we always rely on. We have a pretty good defense, so we just had to be out there and be active. We had 40 deflections tonight. That means everyone was just flying around trying to get the job done. When you have 40 deflections as a team that means you are getting easy looks on fast breaks. I think that is what we did, we played good defense at the end."

On what was said in the timeouts to help the team keep their composure when shots weren't falling:
"Get in transition. Rebound and get it out quick. Get some layups and dunks. I think Rico got a dunk in the early. We just played defense really. That is what we relied on and what we have been relying on. We know offense can come if we just play defense."

KANSAS STATE POSTGAME QUOTES

Kansas State Head Coach Bruce Weber
Opening Statement:
"Obviously, I thought we needed a very special effort today. They are a very good team, a very explosive team. They play well defensively. My hope was that they wouldn't play quite as well or shoot the ball quite as well, but they came out and really played at high level. Great energy, not only shooting the ball, but the rebounds just killed us in the first half. Ten points off of second chances, but also 10 points off our turnovers. I thought we attacked the zone okay. They blocked five shots and we had about five turnovers. I think they had 10 points off those turnovers. They capitalized; it's the pick-six turnover that just kills you. We were hoping to keep it in single digits. We didn't have a good finish to the half. To our guys credit we came back and cut it to six.... You have to make some plays then and really put some pressure on them, I thought they got really stagnant. But we didn't we let them get back in transition and that was it."

On what makes Baylor's zone so difficult to play against:
"Well their length. They block shots. You have to make some threes. Oklahoma State came in here last week and made threes. When we have played well against them we made threes. You can't go 1-for-16. You have to be able to make interior passing. Then you have to get some second chance points and you have to get some transition points. You can't just rely on one thing against them, but obviously their length with (Johnathan) Motley. They are not quite as big as last year but they are still very lengthy, especially at the wings where you get (Taurean) Prince and (Royce) O'Neale. That really makes a difference."

On the locker room atmosphere following the game:
"It was quiet. Obviously, there is not much else you can say we got our butts smacked. It's quiet. We will see what they are about. We have one day, 24 hours to get our mind right. We have played pretty energized at home. Obviously a huge game, hopefully we will rise to the occasion and match Kansas on Monday. You just have to get your head right."