Coach Slessinger's Quotes Following Thursday's 82-65 Win Over Stephen F. Austin

RECAP | POSTGAME VIDEO INTERVIEW | PHOTO GALLERY | GAME BOOK (PDF)

Overall thoughts on the game
'It was incredible. We're so humbled by the amount of people who came out to support us tonight. There's so much stuff going on in our great city with the Pelicans playing and with parades going on. With all that taking place, it was great to have so many people our there tonight. It was very humbling and very supportive."
 
On the way his team played
"Our guys were very prepared. My hat goes off to my staff. They did a phenomenal job getting these guys ready. The game plan that we had was great, the guys executed it and they played so hard and so unselfishly tonight.  I'm so blessed and so happy for them that they had such a great night."
 
On if the win is sweeter after never beating the Lumberjacks in four previous meetings
"They've got a great coaching staff. I've known them the entire time I've been in the coaching business and I have a ton of respect for them. They're very good at what they do and they have a good team. They've got players that have won championships and have won a lot of games. I'm very happy that we won the game, because it was the next game, and I'll be really happy if we can be lucky enough to win again on Saturday.
 
On the upcoming game at Northwestern State
"It's my former place of employment. It's a place I was at for 11 years. It's a hard place to win and we'll be going against a guy in Mike McConathy who is the reason for where I am today because he gave me an opportunity. He's Louisiana's all-time college wins coach. It's going to be a big night and a hard game for us."
 
On the performance of Nate Frye off the bench
"All three of the guys who have been with us all four years are so special. They you add Erik into it and that takes us over the top. Nate has worked so hard this year to prepare for this moment. I'm so happy for him that he played so well tonight. He's capable of that any night. He gives up a lot of good shots to give his teammates great shots. He so unselfish and he's been such a catalyst for us off the bench. He's really been a difference for us in this championship run that we're on. Tonight was a great affirmation for him."
 
On being one win away from clinching at least a share of the 2016-17 Southland Conference championship
"It's humbling, to say the least. To think of where we were when we were lucky enough to get this job. We've been blessed beyond what we probably deserve. It's an amazing opportunity for our student-athletes to come and be a part of this. It will be a lifetime memory for them, as well as our University, the faculty and staff – which has worked so hard to make this a top research university – and all of our alumni that have been hungry for good news and hungry for a winner. We've been so lucky and humbled to give one to them and our city. I love this city as much as anybody. It means so much to me to do this here and to be a part of the fabric of this community."