Aquinas made three free throws in the closing seconds of regulation to force overtime, and outscored Lourdes 11-8 in the extra session on Saturday afternoon as the Saints defeated the Gray Wolves 55-52 at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
A 12-2 run by the Gray Wolves midway through the first half put Lourdes on top by eight, 16-8, only to see the Saints score nine of 11 points before halftime to pull within one, 22-21 at the break.
 
Aquinas took its first lead of the game 26-24 with 17:52 to play, but Lourdes rebounded to retake the lead.  The Gray Wolves held a six-point advantage, 42-36, with 7:06 to play before a stretch of nearly five minutes in which neither school scored.  Lourdes led 44-38 with 1:36 to play before a three-pointer by Jake Bullock with under a minute remaining cut the lead in half.  Bullock was then fouled attempting a triple in the closing seconds and made all three free throws, forcing the extra session.
 
Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) opened overtime with a triple, but Aquinas took the lead for good with 2:25 to play on a three by Zac VanBeek.  The Saints built a six-point lead in the extra stanza, with Lourdes getting a three from Alonzo Hamilton Linden, N.J./The Robinson School) as time expired for the game's final margin.
 
E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.S.) led Lourdes with 19 points while Steinmetz added 18 points and nine boards for the Gray Wolves.  Lourdes shot just 34.4% from the floor and committed 15 turnovers in the loss.
 
Bullock led Aquinas (5-2, 3-0 WHAC) with 14 points while VanBeek added 13 more.  Bryan Mitzner pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Saints.
 
Lourdes (3-3, 0-3) will return home on Tuesday night as the Gray Wolves entertain Michigan-Dearborn.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.