2016-17 Chattanooga Mocs Basketball
Post-Game Quotes at Vanderbilt
Nashville, Tenn. – Dec. 17 – Memorial Gymnasium

Matt McCall, Head Coach
Opening statement.
"We really felt like we deserved to win the game, we played well enough to win. We came in wanting to out-rebound and defend the perimeter and we did both. Free throw shooting really made the difference. Even then, we still had a chance to win the game with Pryor on the line at the end. He's the guy you want on the line during those situations and I know he'll be there again at some point down the line and he'll convert, I guarantee it. We had a chance to beat a good SEC team on the road in a great environment and a couple bounces just didn't go our way."

On play down the stretch.
"We have to look at the film. I thought we had some really good possessions toward the end down low and got called for a travel call. We came down on the fast-break up two and just missed a three to pull ahead a little. We made some tough shots down the stretch and as did they. He (Luke Kornet) hit a big three with good defense on him and he's been there before. He's been in the SEC for a long time, it was a clutch shot against solid defense."

On the difference in the game.
"It hurts because you look at the stat sheet and it shows we probably deserved to win this game. You look at the free throw disadvantage for us and that was really what made the difference between a win and a loss."

On the play of senior Casey Jones.
"Casey played great. He is such a problem in the middle of the zone. He can post up and shoot over guys. He played really well and I'm proud of him. He got in foul trouble early, but he came out the second half and took over."

Johnathan Burroughs-Cook, Sr.-G
On making baskets down the stretch to maintain lead.
"It could have been enough, but it just didn't end up being enough time. We still had a chance to come down and win the game at the end, but they hit two big three's and that was tough to come back from."

On game plan coming in.
"We have to hit free throws and we knew that coming in. We executed and played good defense on the perimeter on the other end, but we still have some work to do to get better."

On facing Vanderbilt's zone defense.
"We moved the ball around and tried to get people open, hit the flashes in the middle, I feel like we did pretty well against the zone. The free throw line killed us tonight. It stings, but it happens and we have to move forward."

Casey Jones, Sr.-G
On 29-19 free throw attempt advantage for Vanderbilt.
"The free throw line was the difference. They got to the line early and often by attacking us and it made the difference."

On learning experience.
"They won the game and we have to learn and get better from this. They are a good SEC team and we battled to the end. It just didn't go our way at the end with them hitting two three's, but we will learn from this and grow."

On trusting each other with crucial possessions.
"Everyone trusts each other at any point in the game. As a team we trust each other enough to have the ball when the game is on the line. Everyone contributed tonight especially during crucial plays."

On one last non-conference matchup before SoCon play.
"We have another opportunity next week to play another non-conference opponent to get better. We know the Southern Conference championship is our goal and we need to get better going into conference play."