Rebounding is why we were in the game. When you are a smaller team, you have to block out.

The thing that you've got to be always conscientious of when you're playing a team that likes to chop block, ... is not overemphasizing to the point that they're looking for the chop block instead of going to make the play.

Damp had some big ones at the end of the game. I try to block every shot and when Damp does that, it helps us a lot. I think with one of us big men in there, the guards know that even if they get beat we're there and that helps a lot.

That was my last game. Rex wasn't in for the first quarter, and we were just a different team when he came in. Just like this [Bears] team, I believe. We're a different team when he's in the game.

How can a team be flat when you know what you have on the line? We know what this game means. We know what every game means. We're not going to come out flat on Sept. 21 when we're a game and a half out. They came out, they jumped on us, they never let us up. We scored three. They answered back. They kept their foot on our neck and never let us breathe. That's what the game was today.

We're a better team when I'm on the floor and up until the Houston game, I was playing well. The seniors need me out there. Hassan needs me out there to help out and I do a better job as far as disrupting teams when I'm out there and we're a better team when I'm out there. I think everybody can see that.