Basketball is always a game of spurts. And as a coach, it's my job to coach the team to stop the spurts. And that's what I told the team at halftime. We knew it would eventually be a much closer game, maybe single digits.
Mankato has a tremendous team, and they are experienced, having been in the NCAA tournament last year. If we can keep the score in the 50s, we have an excellent opportunity, in the 60s, we have a chance, but if it's in the 70s or 80s, we're going to get beat.
Over 400 players have worn the Bulldog uniform since 1930 and these 15 distinguished individuals represent the best in UMD basketball. The impact they've had on our program is immeasurable.
We got a lead and kept it, and got a great team effort. We sought out good shots and made them.
It was a game of two halves. We didn't come out and compete in the first half. We're not a great team playing from behind. We outscored them 50-39 in the second half, but we have to play a complete game.
Ability doesn't win on the road, toughness does, and we weren't tough enough. We didn't defend the ball well enough, or rebound or take care of the ball well enough. They had easy scores and we didn't shoot well.
We didn't have any energy. We didn't have any passion. We didn't have any tenacity. That's what you have to have to win these games, especially when you're on the road.
