Box Score

Lourdes University jumped out to a 21-4 lead eight minutes into the contest on Tuesday evening on the way to a 72-46 victory over Kuyper in the Gray Wolves' home opener at Tam-o-Shanter.
 
“I thought we have a good defensive effort tonight,” head coach Andre Smith said after the win.  “We came out strong defensively and wanted to press them for 40 minutes.  We knew they are a good up and coming team and beat us last year and we wanted to take care of business tonight.”
 
The Gray Wolves force 25 Cougar turnovers which led to 27 points, including 15 takeaways in the first half on the way to a 31-16 halftime lead.  Lourdes also limited Kuyper to just 34.6% shooting from the floor on the night.
 
Lourdes built a lead as large as 24, 31-7, following an Elvin Butler (Akron, Ohio/East H.S.) dunk at the 7:31 mark before both teams went scoreless for the next four minutes.  The Gray Wolves' draught lasted even longer, as a jumper at the halftime buzzer capped a 9-0 run for Kuyper as the Cougars kept Lourdes off of the scoreboard for the remainder of the half.
 
Kuyper closed to within 13, 32-19, with 18:44 to play, but that would be as close as the visitors would get the rest of the way.  A 18-5 spurt over the next seven minutes pushed the lead to 26 following an Enique Mason (Indianapolis, Ind./Fishburne Military H.S.).  Lourdes advantage grew to as many as 34, 63-29, with 6:47 to play as the Gray Wolves cruised to their second consecutive win.
 
Lourdes remains perfect in home openers, moving to 3-0 all-time.
 
Alex Davis (Cleveland, Ohio/Nordonia H.S.) led Lourdes with 13 points while Butler added 12 points and six rebounds.  Mason had a game-high eight boards while Remy Fleurima (North Lauderdale, Fla./Coconut Creek H.S.) dished out five assists.
 
“The defense created a lot of our offense today and allowed us to play up tempo,” Smith added.
 
Lourdes shot 50% from the floor for the game, including 55.2% after halftime.  The Gray Wolves also held a 43-30 advantage on the boards, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds and turning them into 15 points.  Lourdes outscored Kuyper 44-14 in the paint.
 
Andy DeKam led the Cougars with 18 points while TJ Hurtman grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for Kuyper (1-3).
 
“A win is a win,” Smith concluded.  “We need to continue to improve and get ready for IU-Northwest.”
 
Lourdes (2-1) will begin a three-game road trip on Friday evening, traveling to Gary, Ind. to face Indiana-Northwest.  Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. EST.