Dawson really ‘lovin' it'

Updated: April 2, 2011 9:24AM

CHICAGO - Branden Dawson didn't leave the West locker room at the United Center on Wednesday after his team's 111-96 loss to the East squad until close to midnight. The game had ended almost 45 minutes earlier.

Tough losses sometimes lead to dawdling for the losers.

In this instance, though, Dawson wasn't stalling for more time because he wanted to make sense of the defeat.

He just didn't want to leave. The whole week and the whole experience had been that good for the first McDonald's All-American from Gary since Glenn Robinson played in Philadelphia in the all-star game in 1991.

"I really didn't want it to be over with," he said. "I was just enjoying myself and having fun."

Dawson looked comfortable in his role as a tenacious rebounder, particularly on the offensive end. He was also a surprisingly sticky defender.

He finished with eight points and nine rebounds in 15 minutes. Six of those rebounds were on the offensive end.

At one point in the second half, West coach Gene Pingatore sent him back in the game and told him to give his teammates a boost on the boards.

Dawson loves to roam around the paint after flicking pass to a teammate and look for spare rebounds.

"It's just the instincts I have," he said. "Whenever the ball comes up, I always try to be there."

For Dawson, the game also served as a bonding experience for what will come next for him.

He played with both Cody Zeller of Washington and Marquis Teague of Indianapolis Pike.

All three are certain locks to play in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game in June.

"It was a big honor playing with them," he said.

Next year, at Michigan State, Dawson said he believes he is going to play the same way he did on Wednesday.

"You'll see me out there guarding the two-guard on the perimeter and hitting the boards hard," he said.

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