Box Score
Lourdes opened the 2013-2014 season by shooting 60.8% from the floor on Tuesday evening, defeating Kuyper 86-59 at Boonstra Gymnasium in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
The Gray Wolves had five players score in double figures and forced 24 turnovers by the Cougars on the evening.
 
"It's always good to get a win," head coach Andre Smith said after the win.  "This was a tough first game.  Kuyper came ready to play tonight.  We did some good things at times, but we also have a lot of work to do."
 
After surrendering the opening two points of the season, the Gray Wolves answered with 14 unanswered to build a 12-point advantage just four-and-a-half minutes into the game.  Lourdes made seven of its first 10 shots from the floor.
 
Kuyper cut the deficit to nine, 20-11, at the 9:30 mark, the last time the Cougars would be within single digits the rest of the game.  A 16-2 Gray Wolf run over 4:30 pushed the advantage to 23, 36-13, and Lourdes would cruise into the locker room with a 49-27 lead.
 
Lourdes shot 64.3% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, led by 12 points from Eric Worthey (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley H.S.) and another 10 from Jake DuPree (Toledo, Ohio/Whiteford H.S.).  The Gray Wolves forced 13 first half turnovers from Kuyper, eight via steals.
 
A 13-5 run by Kuyper early in the second half pulled the hosts to within 12, 56-44, at the 13:16 mark.  Lourdes tightened the defense though, outscoring the Cougars 18-5 over the next nine minutes to push the lead to 25.  The Gray Wolves largest lead of the game was 30 in the final minute.
 
"The score was way too high for us," Smith added.  "We gave up way too many points for our style of play.  We're going to have a hard time winning many games when we commit 22 turnovers."
 
Worthey led Lourdes with 18 points while Elvin Butler (Akron, Ohio/East H.S.) added 15 more.  Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) tallied 13 points and a game high eight rebounds while Ron Dukes (Saint Louis, Mo./North County Christian H.S.) scored 11.  DuPree finished with his 10 first half points.
 
Kyle Hoek led Kuyper (0-1) with 15 points while Sal Hermiz added 12 more for the Cougars.
 
Lourdes (1-0) will head to Goshen, Ind. on Friday evening for the first night of the Maple City Hoopfest.  The Gray Wolves will face host Goshen on the opening night beginning at 8 p.m.