Will Wade, LSU players talk win over Texas A&M

LSU head coach Will Wade along with players Eric Gaines and Brandon Murray spoke with the media after the Tigers dispatched Texas A&M on Wednesday night, 70-64.

The Tigers outscored Texas A&M, 13-2 over the final 3:34 of the game to score a win over the Aggies at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU stopped a three-game losing streak and is now 16-4 on the season and 4-4 in the SEC. 

Head coach Will Wade

Opening statement…

“Well, it was a great, great win. We found a way. Eric Gaines played his best game here. He was phenomenal, just tremendous. I am just proud of our guys. It wasn’t easy. It is never easy, but I am really proud of our guys. We made the free throws when it mattered. We did not make many of them during the game, but we made them when it mattered.

“I thought the crowd was great. The students were great. I am just very proud of our group. To play the last 12 minutes basically without Tari (Eason) and Shareef made some big plays for us. Brandon Murray, he is just a warrior.”

On utilizing the younger players…
“I thought Gaines was great, I thought Murray was great. I thought those guys stepped up and made plays and made things happen. I was very proud of those guys. We still have a lot of growth to go so we have to play consistently and play back-to-back but I was very proud of those guys.”

Guard Brandon Murrray

On making each possession count due to increasing injuries
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight. They (Texas A&M) played really hard and aggressive but we ended up doing what we had to do. Like Eric said, it’s always about the next man up.”

Guard Eric Gaines

On locking in at the free-throw line down the stretch.
“We all are good free-throw shooters. Coach (Will Wade) always tells us to take our time, take a deep breath and knock them in. That’s what we did at the end.”

On game-saving block
“I saw him (Andre Gordon) by himself and went for it even though I had four fouls. I had to make that attempt. And I did. I got the block and sealed the game at the free-throw line.”

LSU shot 42.6 percent from the field (20-of-47) with six treys, while A&M made 40.4 percent (21-of-52) with nine treys. LSU out rebounded A&M, 38-30. Justice Williams, Tari Eason and Alex Fudge had their first career starts for the Tigers.

LSU will step out-of-conference on Saturday at 11 a.m. when they travel to TCU as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. LSU is back at home next Tuesday at 8 p.m., hosting Ole Miss in the PMAC.