Lourdes University Athletics

Mount Vernon Nazarene jumped out to a 20-point lead seven minutes into the contest on Friday night on the way to defeating Lourdes 74-57 at Ariel Arena in Mount Vernon, Ohio in the opening game of the MVNU Homecoming Classic.
 
"We were not ready out of the gate and able to match their level of intensity," head coach Josh Gibson said.  "The second half was much better and we played basketball.  We have to learn to bring consistent effort to both sides of the ball when our shots are not falling thought."
 
The Cougars made four three-pointers in the first seven minutes of the contest on the way to building a 27-5 lead.  The Gray Wolves were able to close to within 15, 42-27, with 2:49 to play before halftime, but Mount Vernon Nazarene scored the final eight points of the half to take a 50-27 edge into the locker room.
 
Mount Vernon Nazarene shot 65.5% from the floor, and made 8-of-12 from long range in the opening stanza.
 
Lourdes slowly battled back in the second half.  A 14-3 run over six minutes pulled the Gray Wolves to within 10, 54-44, with 12:50 to play, but Lourdes was unable to cut the deficit to single digits in the second half.  The Cougars went 14-for-17 from the free throw line in the final 20 minutes to offset just five field goals and 0-for-11 shooting from long range to secure the win.
 
Kris Little (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley H.S.) led Lourdes with 12 points as the only Gray Wolf to tally double figures while Malik Thurman (Dayton, Ohio/Stebbins H.S.) and Najeeb Johnson (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights H.S.) each added eight points.
 
Lourdes finished the game shooting 47.6% from the floor but committed 21 turnovers and was outrebounded 28-21.
 
Brett Vipperman led Mount Vernon Nazarene (5-0) with 20 points, making 10-of-12 from the line, as four Cougars tallied double figures on the night.
 
Lourdes (1-4) will face Shawnee State to wrap up play in the MVNU Homecoming Classic on Saturday afternoon.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Ariel Arena.