Box Score
Lourdes used a 15-3 run to open the second half on Saturday afternoon and defeated #20 Indiana Tech 57-51 at the Merillat Center on the campus of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich.
 
The victory is the fourth all-time for the Gray Wolves against a ranked opponent, as Lourdes improves to 4-10 against nationally-ranked foes.
 
“This was a great win for us against a physical and athletic top-20 program,” head coach Andre Smith stated after the game.  “Our defense kept us in the game as we were able to guard their shooters.”
 
In a battle of two of the top three defenses in NAIA Division II, it was Lourdes taking the early lead as Corey Harvey (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson H.S.) connected on back-to-back baskets to give the Gray Wolves a 7-3 lead five minutes into the contest.
 
Indiana Tech came back and tie the game at nine before scoring six straight points in just over a minute to take a 17-11 lead at the 10-minute mark.
 
After the Warriors lead grew to seven, the Gray Wolves answered with a 9-1 run of its own to regain the lead 24-23 with just over three minutes to play before halftime.  Four points by Jerome Talton (East Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw H.S.) and three more by Enique Mason (Indianapolis, Ind./Fishburne Military H.S.) gave the Gray Wolves their first lead since the 12:37 mark.
 
In a half that would see seven ties and five lead changes, two free throws by Elvin Butler (Akron, Ohio/East H.S.) with 1.8 seconds remaining before halftime gave Lourdes a 30-28 advantage at the break.
 
Lourdes came out the second half and went to work offensively.  Seven points by Harvey and six more by Davis were part of a 15-3 run to open the stanza and push the lead to 45-31 with 14:21 to play in the game.
 
Indiana Tech's defense then picked up, allowing Lourdes to score just four points over the next 11 minutes as the Warriors cut into the lead.  A lay-up by Antonio Landers pulled Indiana Tech within seven, 45-38, with 6:48 remaining.
 
“Our half court execution needs to get better,” Smith added.
 
After the Lourdes lead went back to nine, 47-38, Indiana Tech went on another run, this one an 8-2 spurt, to close within three, 51-48 as Melvin Brooks scored inside with 28.9 seconds to play.
 
Davis hit two free throws with 8.9 seconds to go to push Lourdes lead back to five only to see Antonio Cannon drain a triple with 4.2 seconds left on the clock.  Harvey and Butler each hit two free throws in the final 4.2 seconds though to secure the victory.
 
“Free throws and rebounding saved us down the stretch,” Smith concluded.
 
Davis and Harvey led the Gray Wolves with 15 points each with Harvey grabbing eight rebounds and Davis pulling down seven more.  Mason added nine points as Lourdes outscored Indiana Tech 36-18 in the paint. 
 
Lourdes shot 17-of-19 from the free throw line on the night and was 45.5% from the floor.  The Gray Wolves also outrebounded the Warriors 33-20.
 
Brooks led Indiana Tech (11-3, 5-2 WHAC) with 13 points off of the bench while Landers added 12 point and Cannon chipped in 11 more.
 
Lourdes (7-4, 4-3) will return to action on Thursday evening, facing Marian in the opening round of the Saint Xavier Midwest Tournament.  Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. EST in Chicago, Ill.