Box Score

Ken Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook H.S.) and Remy Fleurima (North Lauderdale, Fla./Coconut Creek H.S.) each made a free throw in the final minute to propel Lourdes to a 53-51 victory over Aquinas at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
 
Neither team led by more than three points over the final 13 minutes of the contest, with six ties and seven lead changes taking place in the second half.
 
“This was a good win against a tough opponent for us,” head coach Andre Smith stated after the game.  “Every game in this league is a battle.”
 
Lourdes jumped out to an early lead 14-6 midway through the first half following a jumper in the lane by Elvin Butler (Akron, Ohio/East H.S.).  Aquinas answered with six straight points to close within two before the Gray Wolves scored seven straight points to take a 21-12 lead on a bucket from Enique Mason (Indianapolis, Ind./Fishburne Military H.S.).
 
The Gray Wolves extended the lead to as many as 10 in the first half before taking a 32-24 lead into the locker room.  Lourdes shot 48.1% from the floor in the opening half and committed just four turnovers while forcing 10 miscues from the Saints which they turned into 14 points.
 
Neither team scored over the first 3:15 of the second half, but Aquinas cut into the lead shortly thereafter, opening the half on a 9-1 run to tie the game at 33 with just under 15 minutes to play.
 
Jake DuPree (Toledo, Ohio/Whiteford H.S.) answered with a triple to put the Gray Wolves on top and Tigana Cain (Kingston, Jamaica/Redemption Christian H.S.) followed with a layup to put Lourdes back on top by five with 13 minutes to play.
 
Back-to-back threes by Connor McCane gave Aquinas its first lead of the game, 39-38, with 11:40 to play and the contest was nip and tuck the rest of the way.  A free throw by Smith put Lourdes on top by three, 48-45, with 6:27 to play but the Saints again answered with four points of their own to forge ahead 49-48.
 
A Smith triple with 4:30 left gave Lourdes a 51-49 advantage and it would stay that way until Austin Semple registered a steal and score at the 1:37 mark to tie the contest.  The free throws in the final minute though were enough to give the Gray Wolves the win and snap their two-game losing skid.
 
“We played hard and got the tough fought win,” said Smith.  “We really relied on our defense.”
 
Both teams struggled from the floor in the second half, with Lourdes shooting just 19% from the field and Aquinas connecting at a 22.7% rate.
 
“I think we got a little stagnant on offense at times in the second half,” Smith added.  “Our defense keeps us in games though.  We just need to get better at closing out possessions.”
 
Alex Davis (Cleveland, Ohio/Nordonia H.S.) led Lourdes off of the bench with 12 points, four steals, and three assists while Smith added 10 points.
 
McCane led Aquinas (3-9, 2-3 WHAC) with 11 points, making three threes, while Brandon Walker posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
 
Lourdes (6-3, 3-2) will take to the road on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. to face Concordia.  Tip-off against the Cardinals is set for 3 p.m.