Lourdes held a one-point lead over 15^th-ranked Saint Xavier with just over seven minutes remaining on Tuesday afternoon before the Cougars finished the game on a 23-11 run to defeat the Gray Wolves 84-73 at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. on the final day of the Saint Xavier Midwest Tournament.
 
The Gray Wolves led 62-61 with 7:16 to play in the game following a three-pointer by E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.S.).  Saint Xavier responded with five straight points to retake the lead, one the Cougars would not relinquish the rest of the way.
 
Saint Xavier extended the lead to nine points before the Gray Wolves clawed back to 76-70 in the final two minutes following a lay-up by Jake DuPree (Toledo, Ohio/Whiteford H.S.).  Lourdes had the ball but failed to score and the Cougars made six of eight free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
The Cougars jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead less than five minutes into the game and still held an 11-point advantage, 32-21, with eight minutes remaining in the first half.  Lourdes answered with a 17-6 run over the next five minutes to tie the game at 38.  The Gray Wolves were unable to take the lead in the first half, however, and entered the locker room trailing Saint Xavier 45-44.
 
A Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) layup and an Aaron Ashley (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights H.S.) triple put the Gray Wolves on top for the first time in the game, 50-47, with under 18 minutes to play in the game.  The game changed hands four times in the second half before the Cougars took the lead for good with under seven minutes remaining.
 
Steinmetz, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, led Lourdes with 17 points while Ashley added 16 points and DuPree tallied 14 points, all off of the bench.  Blackwell was the lone Gray Wolf starter to finish in double figures, scoring 15 points.  Lourdes committed just seven turnovers on the day to keep the game close.
 
Jack Krieger led Saint Xavier (9-5) with 36 points, making 10-of-13 from the floor and 14-of-16 from the line, while also grabbing 10 rebounds.  Larry Motuzis added 25 points for the Cougars.  Saint Xavier outrebounded Lourdes 36-23 for the afternoon while shooting 55.3% from the floor.
 
Lourdes (9-6) will have 10 days off for Christmas and New Year's before returning to action on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015.  Tip-off against Northwestern Ohio is set for 3 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.