NR/NR BAYLOR (9-5, 1-1) 73, 20/21 IOWA STATE (12-3, 2-1) 70
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018
Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas)
Attendance: 5,930
 
BAYLOR POSTGAME QUOTES
 
Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew
Opening Statement…
"Another Big 12 game. We've played two of them, both of them come down to the last possession. At the end of the day, that's what the best league in the country gives you. No off nights and if you compete really, really hard, it gives you a chance to be in those positions. I thought our guys really competed hard. I thought we played smart. 10 turnovers, 17-for-20 from the free throw line, 13-to-5 on second chance points, but I really thought the energy level and the effort was tremendous. Makai [Mason] was outstanding, but Tristan (Clark), for somebody that did an unbelievable job of handling the ball, had zero turnovers and three assists for the night, which as much as he got it and faced double teams was really outstanding."
 
On comparing tonight's game to the loss at TCU…
"I think at TCU we got down 18 or 19; a lot of teams want to give you a run or a chance to tie the game. Really credit our character and how the guys competed to give us a chance. When you come that far back and you fall short, it really hurts. Tonight, we had the lead, and when you play a great team like Iowa State, it's a game of runs because they can score in bunches. As a coach, you feel really good when you know your guys have put in a lot of hard work. We've lost a couple close games at the end, so it's great to see them win one as well. We deserved it tonight. I thought our energy and effort was outstanding. We really competed. I thought the bench was outstanding and giving them positive feedback and motivation throughout the game. The fans were into it and really helped."
 
On carrying momentum into Saturday's matchup with Kansas…
"I know with us, I think we had a huge win at Arizona and then came back and we saw if you're not ready to play the next game, you're not going to win. In the Big 12, it doesn't matter what you did in the last game, you've got to be ready for the game that you have (next). The good thing is, our team this year, the games that we've lost we've competed at least. At the end of the day, we haven't been blown out. We have a day off tomorrow, they've earned it, so we'll be hopefully rested and fresh for Thursday and Friday to get prepared for a big game Saturday. You've got to win your home games in the Big 12."
 
Baylor Senior Makai Mason
On the team's focus and energy tonight…
"I think it was one of the most focused (games) we've played. Obviously coming off a loss, the pressure is greater. Attention to detail is definitely higher because you can't waste any more opportunities. This was a great Iowa State team. We knew we had to be focused from the get go, and we were able to get it done."
 
On his mentality tonight…
"I tried to be a little more aggressive from the start. We've been getting off to slow starts and I felt like that was kind of on me, just not getting us going energy-wise and just being aggressive. That was something I was definitely focusing on a bit and it was able to work out for us."
 
On finding a rhythm at this point in the season…
"It has definitely been a process. But every game, I felt like I've been a little more comfortable. Just learning our system as well. We've had a lot of new guys so just getting that chemistry to the point it's at now, I think we've really grown and I feel more comfortable in it."
 
Baylor Junior Devonte Bandoo
On shooting free throws at the end of the game…
"Yeah I was confident. I just wanted to clear my head, just stay positive when I was going to the line. I already knew it was two big free throws. I know how I've been down the stretch before and I knew I could knock them down."
 
On his performance tonight…
"Whatever it takes. If I need to just play defense or hit some shots, whatever it takes. I'm just here to help the team. The only thing I want to do is win."

IOWA STATE POSTGAME QUOTES
 
Iowa State Head Coach Steve Prohm
Opening Statement…
"Tough loss. This is a loss that should bother us a lot. We were not great the last eight minutes of the first half, and that put us in a bad position down the stretch. We did not do a good enough job with some empty possessions down the stretch where we did not run good offense. You have to run good offense, and we did not put the team in good positions. Credit to Baylor. We knew this was going to be a tough game and we did not get it done."
 
On the last five seconds….
"You are down three, so you are in a tough pickle because you don't know if Baylor is going to foul. We just did not get what we wanted and did not get the foul call. The possession before we got the foul and it was a two instead of a three, so that was unfortunate."
 
On the potential foul in the last second …
"I do not know. I could not see it. There were some tough plays, but we all need to be better."
 
On the Baylor game plan…
"They did a good job playing zone, and then they went man for the rest of the night. Our defense inside was bad and we gave up too many deep catches. I though Solomon did a good job, but we just got really stretched out. Baylor had some guys step up and hit shots which was huge. The way Baylor closed the first half was the big key."
 
On giving up what they accomplished vs. Kansas….
"No just because you have to play the next game, but if you win your home games and split on the road you should be in a good position to win a league championship. We just needed one bucket to put it away and we just could not get it done."
 
Iowa State Redshirt Junior Michael Jacobson
On the difference between the Kansas and Baylor game…
"I just think it was defensive intensity. We gave (Tristan) Clark too many catches in the first half and the timing of our double teams were off. Credit to them. They made plays and made shots, and Baylor did a good job."
 
On the tough loss…
"We just wanted to build off of what we started on Saturday and get a good start off to the league. Unfortunately, in the Big 12 you have to get ready for the next one and we have K-State this Saturday who is very good."  
 
Iowa State Redshirt Senior Marial Shayok
On the last five seconds….
"We just tried to create some contact, and we did not get the call. That is all it was."