March 19, 2007

Game 29 - #4 Concordia (Calif.) 124, #1 Robert Morris (Ill.) 119 (4OT)

Concordia Head Coach Ken Ammann

On the game:

"It was just one of those games...I don't know if there has been a better NAIA game in this tournament ever.  It is a shame that one team had to lose.  Both Robert Morris and our team showed a tremendous grit all season long.  Robert Morris had a tough draw in this tournament, they had a harder road to get here than we had, I have been very impressed with their team over the course of this tournament.  They played three tough teams before us and then to come back in regulation.  I thought we should have won in regulation, and then they should have won the first three overtimes, maybe the fourth, and somehow we came up with some miracle plays.  They made some tough plays to tie in regulation and we made some tough plays in overtime.  It's a shame somebody has to go home."

On making their third finals appearance in five years:

"Just to get to the Fab Four is a great thing and everything else is just icing on the cake."

On whether RMC's late struggles at the foul line factored into going for two when down by three with 12 seconds left in the 3^rd overtime:

"No, not at all, I just thought we could score quickly and maybe we would only need a two after that instead of the three...but coaching didn't win this game."

On the fatigue this type of game will affect the players:

"We are going to try to get three or four days off before we play the final...but I don't think that is going to happen.  I think [the other two semifinal] teams will be tired too, Faulkner plays aggressive defense so whoever wins this game [between Faulkner (Ala.) and Oklahoma City] is not going to be fresh."

On Terrence Worthy and Keith Lawrence's multiple game-tying shots:

"They have both hit game-tying and game-winning shots all season, so that wasn't an accident that they did it again."

Concordia freshman point guard Terrence Worthy

On his game-tying basket at the end of double overtime

"There was no hesitation there. Throughout the entire game, they had been blocking my shots. It caught me off guard that there was no defender there to even contest the shot. In the end, it was just up to me to make the shot and I did."

On the spirit of the team after losing the lead at the end of regulation

"We always feel like we can win it. After the first overtime, we thought the next overtime was ours. If that wasn't ours, the next one was. It was just up to us to keep taking them to overtime and we just wore them out."

On playing in two double-overtime games and one overtime game during the regular season

"It just hardens us. We're like nails from this point on. We've been to overtimes, double overtimes. We've been in double overtimes twice during our regular season. The experience we got from those games, words can't even explain. We're undefeated in overtimes and we really felt like it was up to us to win it, so that's what we did."

Concordia senior forward Levi Luster

On getting the ball on a regular basis in the overtime periods

"Coach kept calling plays after we fouled a couple of their bigs out. They really didn't defend us as well after that. We were trying to get the ball down low, but still keep the ball moving."

On playing against another bigger front line

"It was the same thing as against Union. (RMC) were way bigger and more athletic. You just had to fight as hard as you can. You just had to work as hard as you can to get around them, front them, box them out. It was going to be a tough task, but all five had to do it."

On losing the lead at the end of regulation

"It was a little disappointing, but we've been there four or five times this year. We didn't come out there the way we wanted to in the first overtime, or the second or the third, but we just kept fighting, staying in the game, hitting shots and that fourth overtime, we took over."

Concordia junior guard Keith Lawrence

On his three-point shot at the end of the 3^rd overtime

"When I came down and I did a move that I normally do to make people get off me, he kind of slipped, so I thought I had a shot instead of pass, which is what I normally do. When I jumped up, I knew I had to jump in the air just in case he was going to get a hand up. I'm always prepared for the double-clutch."

On the unselfishness of Concordia

"When it comes down to it, we might make selfish plays every now and then in the beginning of the game, but when it comes down to the clutch, the guys who are normally going to be in are smart enough to know that not every shot is going to be their shot. You might have to pass up a look to get someone a better shot."

Robert Morris Head Coach Al Bruehl

"Concordia did what they had to do.  We had them beat three times and they did what they had to do."

"We could second guess ourselves about whether you foul or not, but I don't want to do that."

"Our kids showed heart and left everything out on the floor."

"It just wasn't our day."

On Freeman Taylor and Melvin Council: "I know they're the two of the best players I've ever coached.  They're 63-5 over the last two years."

On the defensive effort:
"If we can keep the other team in the 38 percent range, we like our chances. Hopefully we can 
do it one more time. We wanted to slow them down and eliminate the dribble drive. 
We gave up a few easy baskets three or four times down the floor, so we called timeout. 
You don't get to this time of year without facing a good team."

On Concordia:
"They are a great basketball team. They are really balanced and like to see the three. 
They are a disciplined team that runs their stuff."

On the quadruple overtime producing a fatigue factor for Concordia:
"This time of year, you've got to come and play. The team that executes both offensively and 
defensively will win the game. I assure you, we'll be back there and ready to go. Faulkner 
sat around waiting, too, and it didn't hurt my feelings to see them play so long."