Box Score
Lourdes battled back from a 17-point second half deficit, only to have Northwestern Ohio defeat the Gray Wolves on Wednesday with a put back lay-in as time expired, giving the Racers a 64-62 victory at Racer Gymnasium in Lima, Ohio.
 
Lourdes trailed 36-19 with 18:30 to play in the game, its largest deficit of the game.  The Gray Wolves were still behind by 16, 44-28, at the 12:09 mark before beginning its comeback.  Lourdes scored straight points cut the Racer lead to 10, only to have Northwestern Ohio again push the lead back to 14 with under 10 minutes to play.
 
The Gray Wolves scored seven straight points to cut the deficit in half with 7:18 to play at the beginning of a 15-3 run.  Lourdes pulled to within two, 53-51, following an Eric Worthey (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian H.S.) jumper at the 4:46 mark.  Lourdes was unable to tie the game until Ron Dukes (Saint Louis, Mo./North County Christian H.S.) drilled a three-pointer as the shot clock expired with 1:04 left to put the Gray Wolves on top 60-59.
 
After Northwestern Ohio split a pair of free throws with 43 seconds to play, the game was tied.  Lourdes had the ball stripped and Aaron Cross scored on the other end to put the Racers on top by two with 13 seconds remaining.  Jerome Talton (East Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw H.S.) tied the game at 62 with his basket on the ensuing possession for the Gray Wolves but UNOH raced down court.  Cross missed a three-pointer, but Derrick Tate gathered the rebound and laid it in as the buzzer sounded, giving the hosts the victory.
 
Lourdes scored the first five points of the game, but that would be the Gray Wolves largest lead of the evening.  Northwestern Ohio went on a 13-0 run over nine minutes to take the lead, one they would not give up until the final minute.  The Racers took a 32-19 lead into the locker room, forcing 13 Lourdes turnovers which led to 19 points.
 
The Gray Wolves shot 57.9% from the floor while holding the Racers to just 38% shooting on the night, but Lourdes finished the game committing 20 turnovers to just 10 for Northwestern Ohio.
 
Talton led Lourdes with 16 points off of the bench while Dukes added 15 more.  Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) tallied his second straight double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Gray Wolves to a 34-26 advantage on the boards.
 
Johnny Elliott led Northwestern Ohio (11-4, 7-2) with 17 points while Tate added 16 more.  Ed Jenkins was the third Racer in double figures, finishing with 11 points.
 
Lourdes (11-6, 6-3) will return home on Saturday afternoon to host 10^th-ranked Cornerstone.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.