Feb. 26, 2005

Recap |  Final Stats |  Notes

Post-Game Quotes

Cleveland State Head Coach Mike Garland "They were the aggressors right out of the box, and they set the tempo for the game right away. I don't think we expected them to come out and play us as hard as they did. We really needed to shoot the ball well tonight to upset them, and we couldn't do that."

"Now begins the real season, the second season. It's one and done now. We have to go into Chicago and come out with a win to get to Milwaukee. UIC is a team that we can beat. Hopefully, this is a game that can prepare us for a game against UIC, because this was the kind of intensity that a game like that will have."

On comparing this season to last season: "I thought we really took giant step towards learning how to play hard and with intensity, yet remain under control. Last year, there was effort, but it would lead to scores for other people or fouls. We learned that when we position ourselves for a win at the end of a ballgame, we could finish it. We have to learn how to control tempo a little better. Outside of today's game, we've been able to build leads on people."

On UW-Milwaukee's style of play: I love that style of play. It's very up tempo, very aggressive defense. They're not walking it. I think we simulate more of what they do than any other team in the league. But that style has propelled us to take the next step. We have to continue to load up our roster, get our guys stronger with more stamina at the end of the season, so we can play that style of game at the end of the season."

Cleveland State forward Raheem Moss: On the improvement over last season: "It's one step forward, but there is still a lot to accomplish. We want to be like Milwaukee."

Cleveland State forward Amadou Koundoul: "The team has progressed a lot from last year in terms of friendships and comraderie."

UW-Milwaukee Head Coach Bruce Pearl: "We knew there would be a lot at stake coming into this game. We knew how well they were playing at home and that we were going to get a very aggressive defensive effort from them."

"It was a classic setup for a letdown. If we lost the game tonight, we're off the bubble. We were trying to play it was like it was the NCAA tournament."

On Cleveland State's style of play: "I think nobody plays more like us in the league. They press, they play hard. We have very similar styles."