Dec. 14, 2011

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Postgame quotes following Maryland's 65-61 win over FIU Wednesday night at Comcast Center.

Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon

Opening statement:
"That was a really good win for us. I thought we were as bad as we could be in the first half. Give [FIU] credit, they played inspired and built that lead. We let our offense affect our defense there at the 6:00 mark in the first half. The difference in the game was I thought we really defended down the stretch. We worked hard defensively. We've talked about defense. We guarded the ball better and I thought Ashton Pankey was tremendous down the stretch. I thought Berend [Weijs] was great down the stretch blocking shots, protecting the rim, and rebounding. It was really hard for them to score. We weren't great at the other end, but they couldn't score on us and we won another close game and that's the key. We continued to make just enough free throws and just enough plays to win another close game, so I'm really proud of them. We played without Pankey in the first half which hurt our depth and we had a lot of guys step up and play well. Our point guard play was not good early and it was really good in the second. I think we had three turnovers in the second half which was really good for us."

On the team's play in the second half with Terrell Stoglin on the bench:
"It was great [to play well without Terrell Stoglin] and we were lucky this week because Terrell had an ankle injury, so we were able to practice two and a half days without him and had really good practices. We learned to play without him and that was great for us. You could not have scripted it any better. It's great for Terrell to watch it. We were down six when he went out and up when he came back, so that will help his confidence with his teammates. But in the end we needed him. He makes the plays and makes the free throws."

On his team's defensive play:
"Today is the first day that we guarded the way we're capable of guarding. We're not a great defensive team yet, but we really guarded out there. I felt comfortable that we were going to get some stops and do the right things once we made our adjustments, so I felt really good about that."

On the team's progress through six games:
"We're much better obviously than we were in Puerto Rico. We've had some guys like Mike Parker really getting better. Guys like Ashton Pankey really getting better. Nick Faust is not turning the ball over as much and understanding his role. I can go across the board, everybody is getting better. Individually we've come a long way and that's a start."

On the play of Terrell Stoglin:
"[Terrell Stoglin] definitely had fresh legs because he didn't practice a lot this week and you could tell he had a little bit more bounce than Sean [Mosley] out there. I think down the stretch he made a big time play to get fouled splitting those guys. He's pretty special to make those kinds of plays."

Senior Guard Sean Mosley

On team confidence after the win:
"We know the guys on our team can score. In high school we were all scorers and it's a different atmosphere and level now. These young guys had to step up and they did that tonight."

On the final minutes of play:
"I think we played as a team. We rebounded when they missed but they made some tough shots. We still stuck together as a team to win tonight. It felt good."

On getting the experience of a close game:
"I think that the toughest thing is that we came out with the win tonight. We did that as a team and we're not being selfish. I'm proud of my teammates on how we played tonight and especially how our bench played tonight. The crowd was into it and our bench put a lot of energy into the win tonight. We brought it in the second half to close the game up."

On halftime adjustments:
"We made some adjustments at halftime, switching some light screens and ball screens. Coach [Turgeon] did a great job making those adjustments at halftime. We didn't want to lose this game tonight and we came together as a team. We did the little things to get the win tonight."

Sophomore Guard Terrell Stoglin

On what the win meant to him:
"It meant a lot. We worked on going box-and-one and the team playing without me. Everyone stepped up to the challenge and we did good."

On his personal play:
"I think in the first half, personally I was thinking too much. I should have tried and get my teammates more involved. The second half was much better for the whole team - we won. That is the most important thing.

On his ankle injury:
"It hurt on my cuts. No excuses. I got hurt during the last game against Mount St. Mary's."

Redshirt Freshman Forward Ashton Pankey

On getting back into play:
"I think it has definitely been a big thing for me... Sitting out the Notre Dame game, I think it was Coach [Turgeon] sending me a message. He wants me to be willing to lead on this team even though I'm a freshmen. I think I have definitely stepped up in terms of being a leader and being a good teammate. Talking to guys and telling them where the need to be on defense and other stuff like that. I think it has been working for my advantage."

FIU Coach Isiah Thomas

Opening statement:
"I thought our guys competed hard. Losing DeJuan Wright at the half really hurt us, but I thought for the most part our guys stepped up and played a pretty good basketball game. Now we'll move on to the next one."

On the play of Terrell Stoglin:
"He had 13 free throws; he was 11 of 13 from the foul line so he was able to get to the foul line. He's a great scorer, and [Maryland] has a way of manufacturing points when things aren't going well for them. So he's able to get to the line and score."

On establishing a lead in the first half:
"I thought we were doing some good things defensively. I did think the 3-point shot and the technical foul really hurt us. Those four points in the game were big points. At the end of the game those plays end up costing you. But I thought that gave them a little bit of momentum and they were able to go back in at halftime on a little bit more of a positive note rather than being down 10."

On Maryland's ability to get back in the game in the second half:
"They rebounded well on the glass, which was a problem for us. We're a small team, and [Maryland's] size and their athleticism allows them to shoot it and basically get it back. They had 17 offensive rebounds, which was a ton."

On the play of FIU guard Jeremy Allen:
"He brings great leadership to our team. Defensively he's solid, a really good shooter and he's tough out on the floor. His mental toughness is great, but his attitude and toughness is great for us."