Aquinas, ranked 22^nd in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Top-25 poll, led the entire way on Saturday afternoon on the way to defeating Lourdes 64-46 at Tam-o-Shanter.
 
The Gray Wolves shot just 35.6% from the floor, and failed to make a three-pointer in eight attempts, while the Saints connected on 6-of-12 shots from beyond the arc.
 
The Saints scored the game's first nine points and held Lourdes without a field goal for nearly six-and-a-half minutes to start the game while building an 11-1 lead.  The Gray Wolves clawed back, closing to within six, 23-17, with 4:14 to play before halftime, only to see Aquinas score 12 unanswered points while building a 35-19 lead at the break.
 
Lourdes was never able to get any closer than 15 in the second half, as Aquinas led by more than 20 points most of the stanza.  The Saints shot 50% over the final 20 minutes, and committed just seven turnovers on the afternoon.
 
E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.S.) led Lourdes with 16 points, making 8-of-8 from the free throw line.  The senior scored 12 of his points in the second half.  Darrionate Stewart (Cleveland, Ohio/Rhodes H.s.) added 10 points for the Gray Wolves.
 
Jake Bullock led Aquinas (15-5, 11-1) with 19 points, 18 of which came in the first half.  Bryan Mitzner added 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and Zac VanBeek chipped in 12 points for the Saints.
 
Lourdes (8-11, 3-9) will wrap up its current three-game homestand on Wednesday night as the Gray Wolves host Indiana Tech.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.