Both teams were patient on offense, but we definitely stressed at halftime that we had to pick up our game. Our defense came through and won this one for us.

There's definitely a redemption factor.

I told the guys at halftime that's why everybody practices. We just needed to be patient, get into our offense, and not let them get a run.

As a point guard, that's who you want to have the ball late in the game. He worked hard on his free throws over the summer.

Special teams is a man's game. Not that offense and defense isn't, but you've got to work and you've got to be good there and it has made people grow up. Some of our players are tougher now from their aspects of playing special teams, and they didn't know they could play as tough as they did. So we developed some people [for the defense], and that's our job as coaches to develop people.

Definitely a lot is riding on this game. I think it?s definitely a big game for both teams.