Tom Izzo Took Quotations

We took more threes in this game than in the last two combined.

He kind of thrives on pressure, he kind of thrives on big moments. He took control of the game, under control. And that speaks volumes of a player when he can take control of game and do it under control. I think that means the guy's really growing up and becoming a special player.

I think you have to give George Mason a lot of credit. They took it to us early, kicked our butts inside and shot 70 percent on us with eight or nine minutes to go in the second half. ... I've got to say that in my nine years, this is one of the more disappointing evenings I've had in this job.

I think the first five shots we took were 3s, but our inside guys weren't doing the things (we needed). In the second half, we simplified it, (we asked) the guys in the post to be passers and pickers, and that probably helped us some.

I think that was a great sign. Maurice looked like he wanted the ball. He took pretty good shots; he was confident. He exploded with the ball on one drive, it was unbelievable. ... Maurice Ager played like the All-American player he is.

We have to learn how to play with the lead, and the Iowa game was a case in point where we didn't play with the lead. (The players) came into our huddle, we were up 15-4, and they really believed (Iowa) was tired. It was good: 'Let's get 'em now coach, let's do this, let's do that.' But I think they took that to another level and they started taking shots too early.

We had one stretch where we felt we were getting clobbered in there and Dee Brown took over. A combination of the two is not a pretty sight.

We've played in some tough places, we've been through a gambit of situations, ... I think for the most part we've learned something from all the punches we took early in the year.

It took courage for these kids coming off something like that. If you could have seen how people were tightening up after Saturday's game. It's scary.

I know how to move my body. He made a little bit of a mistake, and I took advantage of it. He gave me a little time to take it, and I took it.

The disappointing thing is they took it at us early and kicked our butts inside. I'm disappointed, saddened. On this night, they brought it and we didn't.

The disappointing thing is that they took it at us early, kicked our butts inside. We've never been handled like that inside . . . They were the tougher team tonight and that made the difference.