Box Score
Lourdes, ranked 18^th in the nation in the latest NAIA Division II poll, won for the sixth time in its last seven outings on Saturday afternoon, defeating Concordia (Mich.) 66-56 at Tam-o-Shanter to move into a tie for first place in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.
 
"It was a team effort for us today," head coach Andre Smith stated after the win.  "The game didn't have a lot of flow to it, but a win is a win."
 
The Gray Wolves jumped out to a quick five point lead less than five minutes into the lead, and never trailed the entire contest.  Concordia pulled within one several times in the opening 20 minutes, the latest at the 10 minute mark, but Lourdes went on a 16-5 run over seven mutes to build a 32-20 lead with three minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Lourdes held a 34-26 lead at the break and immediately pushed the advantage back to 12 with back-to-back baskets on its first two possessions of the second half.  The Gray Wolves maintained an eight to 11 point lead most of the second half only to see Concordia make a late run. 
 
The Cardinals cut the Lourdes advantage to five three times in the final six minutes, but the Gray Wolves went a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line in the second half to secure the win.
 
Elvin Butler (Akron, Ohio/East H.S.) led all scorers with 18 points for the Gray Wolves, 16 of which came in the first half.  He was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range.  Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) and Eric Worthey (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian H.S.) each added 12 points for Lourdes with Steinmetz also pulling down nine rebounds.
 
"We also got some good bench production today," Smith said.  "Noah Guthrie (Glouster, Ohio/Trimble H.S.) gave us some good minutes and scored five big points."
 
Josh Fugate led Concordia (3-7, 2-4 WHAC) with 15 points while Joe Remstad added 14 points and nine boards.  John Schaeffer contributed 13 points for the Cardinals.
 
Lourdes forced 21 turnovers while committing just 13 of its own in the contest.
 
"We forced a lot of turnovers and kept our numbers down," Smith added.  "That really contributed to our success."
 
Lourdes (8-2, 5-1) will host Point Park in a non-conference game on Wednesday evening at Adrian College.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.