Lourdes let a 16-point halftime lead slip away on Saturday afternoon as the Gray Wolves suffered a 59-54 loss to Michigan-Dearborn at UMD Fieldhouse in Dearborn, Mich.
 
After surrendering the first four points of the game, Lourdes scored 12 unanswered points to build an eight-point advantage less than seven minutes into the contest.  The lead grew to 18, 33-15, with under four minutes remaining until halftime following an E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.S.) three-pointer.  The Gray Wolves eventually took a 37-21 lead into the locker room.
 
Lourdes scored first to open the second half before the Wolverines went on a run.  A 16-3 spurt pulled Michigan-Dearborn to within five, 42-37, at the 12:46 mark before Lourdes extended the advantage back to 10 points.  A 14-2 Wolverine run put the hosts on top 51-49 heading towards the four-minute mark. 
 
Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) hit a jumper with 2:33 to play to tie the game at 51, but Lourdes could never retake the lead.  Back-to-back baskets by the Wolverines gave them the lead for good and Michigan-Dearborn made four of their final five free throws to secure the win.
 
After shooting 56% from the floor in the first half, the Gray Wolves connected at just a 30% clip over the final 20 minutes.  Michigan-Dearborn was just the opposite, shooting 32% in the first stanza and 63.6% after the break.
 
Steinmetz led Lourdes with 18 points and eight rebounds while Blackwell added 15 points. 
 
Jason Penn led Michigan-Dearborn (9-17, 5-13 WHAC) with 21 points while Brandon Cole contributed 18 points off of the bench.  Jamiel Strickland added 10 points for the Wolverines.
 
Lourdes (14-12, 10-8) returns home on Wednesday evening to host Marygrove.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.