Western Carolina Catamounts
Head Coach Larry Hunter
Opening statement ... "I thought our guys had really good energy and concentration for most of the ballgame. We knew Elon was playing well. They're playing with a lot of confidence and are much improved. We knew we had to play well to have a chance to win. I thought our defense was terrific, we fouled a little more in the second half but in the first half we forced some shot clock violations."
On Richie Gordon staying out of foul trouble ... "His self-discipline has really gotten better and that's what we have talked to him about. Not having that careless reaching, slapping, grabbing foul out near the circle around half court where sometimes when we press, he gets out there on the ball and flick it and he gets a bad foul. We try to get him to stay on the floor more because he has a knack of getting steals but he has to get a little bit more disciplined, and he's playing that way. Offensively we try to get him to attack the middle of the floor."
On fans at the tournament ... "I did hear them late in the ballgame, and I anticipated we would have a good crowd and if we can continue to win, it will build. Our fans have been excited about our basketball team all season."
Senior Center Richie Gordon
On the game ... "We were trying to just play solid defense on the inside. I just tried to play behind and make him (Adam Constantine) beat me."
Elon Phoenix
Head Coach Matt Matheny
Opening statement ..."I am really proud of the four seniors that are on our roster. They laid the foundation for our program that is solid, strong and it's a foundation of toughness and the ability to look adversity in the eye and overcome it. I attribute that to the willingness of our seniors to buy into our new system, to our program and could not be prouder of them. I thought we were fighters in terms of the last month of the season and congratulations to Western Carolina. They won the rebound and loose ball war today and I think that's the biggest difference in the game."
On first season as a head coach ... "Elon University is a special place and I felt that way back in March when Dave Blank offered me the job and I feel that way a lot stronger now. It's special because the people that are there. We had a difficult year in many ways particularly in our win /loss record and some of the losses early in the year. The community is behind our basketball program and you feel that after a tough loss and that is a comforting feeling."
Sophomore guard Drew Spradlin
On the future of Elon ... "I think the future is definitely bright for our program. We have some experience returning and we are going to work really hard in the off season. We're going to get better. I think we got better all year and we are going to keep getting better this off season. I think Elon should be excited."
On the game ... "It was Western Carolina's performance. Richie Gordon was great on the glass and looking at their rebounds that is pretty much the story of the game right there. They got after it. They were tough and made things difficult for us offensively. We kept fighting and playing for 40 minutes like we have been, but they did a really nice job the entire game. All the credit in the world goes to them."