NEW ORLEANS -- Minutes after elimination, Mike Balado said several players approached him saying, "Coach, you were right."
The Arkansas State University men's basketball team had beaten Louisiana-Monroe twice during the regular season, including an 83-79 victory in the season finale Saturday.
The rematch Wednesday night in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament's first round approached, and Balado said he told his players that "tonight was going to be the hardest game they played all year."
Arkansas State (11-21) lost 76-54 to Louisiana-Monroe (16-14), and Red Wolves junior guard Ty Cockfield said afterward the Warhawks "wanted it more.