Post-Game Quotes: Kansas State – Michigan State University Athletics

MICHIGAN STATE

TOM IZZO: I give a lot of credit to Kansas State. They made some big plays down the stretch. They made some big plays early. Been part of a lot of big wins, and I’ve been part of a lot of tough losses. Never been prouder of a team because we didn’t have our game tonight. We did not play like we were the first half. It was just kind of we were ham-and-egging it and just kind of fighting through it.

We just kept fighting. Those two shot clock threes they hit, one was a bank in from almost on the ground, and then we missed some free throws, some of our better guys. It just wasn’t — they made some plays, and we did some strange things.

We played our butt off. The bounce-back after what we were shooting and shoot almost 50 percent from the field. I guess it was 52 from the three, 82 from the line, out-rebounded them. The game was lost with these 16 points off turnovers they got compared to our twos. Turnovers was one thing we were concerned with.

Then those timely shots they hit.

But these guys battled back. Ty was struggling early. Joey was hot. A.J. was just in the middle of it. A.J. really came along late, then Ty did, then Joey did. I’m proud of them. I’m really proud of them. I don’t say that about a lot of teams. But what they’ve done in the last couple weeks, how they’ve grown.

I give a lot of credit to Kansas State, but boy, it was their night with some of those shots that went in. That’s it.

Q. Tyson, the final play there, could you describe what happened as you were going up and I guess Nowell’s hand came in? Can you describe it?

TYSON WALKER: They knew we needed a three to tie the game up, and they just played it really well. They switched, and they just guarded the three-point line well. He made a good play, and none of us could get a clean look, and they got a stop.

Q. Joey, what was the conversation in the huddle before that last offensive possession? Were you guys expecting them to foul being up by three? Was the plan to get a shot early, later? What was the plan there?

JOEY HAUSER: We knew we needed a three. We executed the play pretty well, had a good look at it, passed it up, and then after that, it’s tough to get a good look at it after that. Yeah, and just didn’t get the shot off.

Q. For the players, can you put into words the disappointment of having come so close, losing in overtime here…