E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.S.) made four free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining on Saturday afternoon to lift Lourdes to a 52-48 victory over Lawrence Tech at Ridler Fieldhouse in Southfield, Mich.
 
Blackwell, who finished the day with a game high 19 points, was fouled on his shot attempt in the final second with the game tied at 48.  The Blue Devils received a technical foul as well following the play and the junior stepped to the line to connect on all four tosses to give the Gray Wolves the win.
 
"We were fortunate to escape with a win today," head coach Andre Smith said afterwards.  "They had a spirited crowd behind them at home today.  We made free throws when we needed to thought."
 
Lourdes led by 10, 42-32, with just over five minutes to play in the game before the Blue Devils made a spirited comeback attempt.  Seven straight points closed the gap to three with 3:41 to play.  The Gray Wolves pushed the lead back to five in the final two minutes before six straight points by Lawrence Tech put the hosts on top 47-46 with 21 seconds to play.
 
Blackwell was fouled with 12 seconds remaining, and made both to give Lourdes a one-point advantage.  The Blue Devils went to the line themselves with six seconds left but Brad Watterford split the pair, tying the game and setting up the final seconds.
 
"We had too many mental mistakes which were costly," Smith added.  "We missed layups late and they really outplayed us in the second half, and especially down the stretch.  They are a good team that outworked us."
 
The Gray Wolves took an early 13-4 lead in the first half and led by as many as 13, 24-11, in the opening stanza.  Lawrence Tech closed the half with a three-pointer to pull within 28-20 at the break. 
 
Lourdes led by 10 after the opening basket of the second half before the Blue Devils cut the lead to three less than five minutes into period.  The Gray Wolves pushed the lead back to double figures before Lawrence Tech made one last charge late.
 
Blackwell finished 11-for-11 from the free throw line as Lourdes shot 79.4% from the stripe for the night.  Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) was the only other Gray Wolf to tally double figures, scoring 13 points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.
 
John Harden led Lawrence Tech (1-7, 0-3 WHAC) with 14 points as the Blue Devils shot 60% from the floor in the second half during their comeback attempt.
 
Lourdes (5-2, 2-1) will close out its road trip on Tuesday evening battling Marygrove.  Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit, Mich.