2016 Southern Conference Basketball Championship presented by General Shale
 
No. 1 Chattanooga 73, No. 5 Western Carolina 69
March 6, 2016
 
Chattanooga Mocs
Coach Matt McCall
Opening statement
"It was a hard-fought game from both teams. Their physicality is something they hang their hat on and they are an extremely physical basketball team. They had 15 offensive rebounds and outrebounded us by 12. That's what they hang their hat on. They're really good at it. I'm proud of our team for not getting rattled and not flinching while continuing to play. We got up 11 early in the game and they came roaring back. We got up 11 again in the second half and they came roaring back again. A couple of balls didn't go our way and we fumbled a couple of balls. Again, our toughness prevailed during the game, late, especially. We really did a great job of guarding the 3-point line, which is a big key when you play them, especially on a guy like Rhett Harrelson. I thought that was a big key. I'm really proud of our team. They continue to amaze me with their toughness. The will to win, at the end of the day, is what it boils down to. These guys have had it and we need to have it for one more night."
 
On the play of Greg Pryor
"I wouldn't trade him for a single point guard in the country. I talked with him last night after the game. Greg is one of those guys who puts an enormous amount of pressure on himself to play well for the team, and when he doesn't play up to his standards, it bothers him. It's just because of the type of competitor he is and the type of person he is. I loved his aggressiveness. A couple of these games he's been trying to think too much offensively and not just go play. I told him last night that I believed in him and wanted him to just go out and play. He kind of did what he does and was monotone while he bobbed his head. That's who he is. He's the same guy every day. I wouldn't trade him or any of these guys for the world. Greg Pryor is one of the toughest point guards in the country, if not the toughest point guard in the country. He went out and proved that tonight."
 
On playing in two consecutive tight games
"It's March. They're all going to be close and they're all going to be tight. These guys came to Chattanooga for a reason. They came to Chattanooga to play in games like this and to play with a championship on the line. That's why they came here. That's what every kid wants. That's what every kid dreams of. The game is going to be close tomorrow, too. Whoever we play, it's going to be close. You have to find ways to win games this time of the year. At the end of the day, that's what it boils down to: finding ways to win games. That's what we did tonight, and that's what we did last night. Now we have an opportunity to do that tomorrow."
 
 
Chattanooga junior guard Greg Pryor
On what playing in the SoCon title game means to him
"It means a lot. It just shows that the hard work we've put in since the summertime is actually paying off. We put a lot of work in as a team and individually before and after practice and on our own. The things that we've worked on are actually showing and the connectivity we have with each other is actually showing. It's taken us a long way."
 
Chattanooga junior forward Tre' McLean
"We just have to want it. This is it. This is what we've been working for since coach McCall got the job. This is why we all came back when coach McCall got the job. We only get this opportunity with this team one time. This is it. This could be our last time playing together, and it's our first time playing in the SoCon championship.
 
 
Western Carolina Catamounts
Coach Larry Hunter
Opening statement
"I thought it was key to the game that the start of both halves that they jumped on us a little. Start of the first half, start of the second half they did the same thing and made us play catch-up, and I thought that was key. Them getting to the foul line with their dribble drive, I thought hurt us. I couldn't be more proud of my guys. We didn't have our normal energy, but that's certainly not an excuse. We still competed and showed a lot of heart out there again tonight, but we just weren't good enough to get it done."
 
On Greg Pryor's 3 before halftime
"I thought we had him trapped at half court. We didn't execute the trap real well and he split and got a shot. You gotta get that rebound. I think that was a big shot, but I don't think that it was the ballgame. I thought the way they came out in the second half was more key."
 
On game
"As I look at the stat sheet, if you would have told me that we outscored them 46-28 in the paint with as big and athletic as they are, if you would have told me that we would have outrebounded them by 12, I would have said we would have won the ballgame. It wasn't to be. We had too many turnovers, and that was a key to the game that we had 20 turnovers."
 
Senior Torrion Brummitt
On team's fight
"We battled back in the second half, but at the end of the game, we didn't get it done."
 
On career at WCU
"I've enjoyed my time here at Western Carolina. It's been a great privilege to play under coach Hunter and his staff. It's been great these last four years."
 
Senior Mike Brown
On career at WCU
"It's been great, as well. We had a lot of ups and downs. We've seen a lot of people. We've met a lot of people. Won big games. It's been a great career here, and I've really enjoyed it."