Lourdes surrendered the game's first 18 points on Saturday afternoon, and despite a spirited second half rally, dropped a 78-73 decision to Madonna at Tam-o-Shanter.
 
"You can't beat very many teams at any level when you fall behind 18-0," head coach Andre Smith said afterwards.  "We're definitely not that kind of team.  We had way too many blown defensive assignments, especially early.  I thought we came out the second half with more energy, but by then it was too late."
 
The Crusaders started the game making eight of their first 12 shots from the floor while Lourdes missed its first nine opportunities in the game's first eight minutes.  The Gray Wolves made 10 of their final 20 shots in the stanza and was able to claw to within 13, 38-25, by intermission.
 
A 19-8 run by the Gray Wolves midway through the second half pulled Lourdes to within five, 56-51, following a three-point play by Alonzo Hamilton (Linden, N.J./The Robinson School).  Madonna responded though, scoring 13 of the next 18 points to push the lead back to 13, 69-56, with three minutes to play.
 
Lourdes would hold the Crusaders without a field goal the rest of the way, again making a run.  Trailing by 10, 75-65, with 30 seconds to play, Lourdes scored seven of the next eight points to cut the deficit to three, 76-73, with 3.1 seconds remaining, but Tyler Stewart, who led Madonna with 17 points, made two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.
 
Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) led five Lourdes players in double figures with 19 points while also grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.  E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.s.) added 16 points while Julian Johnson (Columbus, Ohio/Horizon H.S.) scored all 13 of his points in the second half.  Hamilton and Darrionate Stewart (Cleveland, Ohio/Rhodes H.S.) each added 10 points, with Stewart also pulling down eight rebounds.
 
Lourdes shot 43.9% from the floor for the game, including a 53.6% clip in the second half, but committed 15 turnovers for the game which led to 24 Crusader points.
 
Chris Dierker tallied a double-double for Madonna (6-11, 3-6 WHAC) with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Khalil Malone also scored 15 points.  Nick Owens chipped in 14 points for the Crusaders.
 
Lourdes (7-8, 2-6) will remain home on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves welcome Northwestern Ohio to Tam-o-Shanter.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.