Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga at Western Carolina
Ramsey Center – Cullowhee, N.C.
Thursday – January 3, 2019

Lamont Paris, Head Coach
On road win over Western Carolina.
"It felt good. We made plays when it came down to around the seven minute mark, slightly before and after too, we made some shots. We made some good plays to get those shots. I thought the personnel from the offensive standpoint was a huge help in regards to how Western was guarding. We were able to stretch the floor well and that allowed Thomas [Smallwood] to knock down perimeter shots. The guys fought, they were resilient even after the second half didn't start great. I thought we did a great job of responding and grabbing momentum back quickly. The guys were able to rally and I thought they played with togetherness and were very well connected tonight. Multiple guys stepped up. We had five guys make a three. That's a strength for us on offense. We're always going to have to make shots from out there. I thought ball screens really allowed us to be successful tonight on offense as well."
 
On allowing opponent offensive rebounds.
"One is too many in my opinion. They're physical and it won't get any less physical going forward, especially next game. That's been a thing for us all season. They know it, we know it, everyone knows it. The guys have to keep their man from grabbing a rebound. That's something we all have to do, bigs and guards, everyone is included. We need all the help we can rebounding the ball."
 
On trying to hold confidence late in games & make it last moving forward.
"That's what happens when you pile up losses here and there. For younger teams and new coaches, it creeps into your mind. We're not at the point yet of that not possibly happening. Both of the teams playing tonight need good things to happen and make some plays to get something rolling moving forward this season."
 
On heading to Johnson City for matchup at ETSU on Saturday.
"They're good. They proved it to us last year and now we have a chance to go in there and compete and play well. We have to make some plays and then first and foremost, get stops and secure the rebound. They're very athletic and one of the best rebounding teams in the country so it will be a good challenge for us."

David Jean-Baptiste, R-So.-G
On feeling after road win at WCU.
"It feels great to be above .500, especially after a tough year last year. This year, coming out with a tough road victory with a young team, it feels good. To fight back in the second half from being down felt really good. We came together as a team and won the game as a team."

On second half mentality.
"Being down in the second half, a big thing for us as a team was to just stay calm. We wanted to stay calm and play like how we know how to play. Offensively we were very comfortable because we know a lot of guys can make plays. A.J. [Caldwell] made a big three, Thomas [Smallwood] made some big threes. It was just us staying confident and staying calm."

Kevin Easley, Fr.-F
On making defensive effort a point of emphasis.
"That's all coach kept talking about head of the road trip. As a team, the five guys in blue, we have pride in defense. We had to take pride in defense tonight because we knew it was a big game. We just locked in on defense big time."

On what worked tonight on offense.
"My teammates got me the ball in spots I wanted and needed, so luckily I knocked them in."