E.J. Blackwell (Rochester, Pa./Rochester H.S.) scored 21 of his 27 points after halftime, helping Lourdes rally from a nine-point second half deficit to defeat Marygrove 85-81 on Wednesday evening at the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit, Mich.
 
Blackwell made 9-of-11 from the free throw line over the final 20 minutes in addition to six field goals, and added four steals in the second half.  Zach Steinmetz (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) and Julian Johnson (Columbus, Ohio/Horizon H.S.) both tallied double-doubles while Darrionate Stewart (Cleveland, Ohio/Rhodes H.S.) tallied a career-high 17 points.  Steinmetz finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Johnson tallied 12 points and a game-high 12 boards.
 
"We were definitely in need of this win on the road," head coach Andre Smith said afterwards.  "It wasn't pretty but at this point in the season a win is a win.  Credit Marygrove, they made some big shot, but I thought our guys really battled to come back."
 
Marygrove built a double digit lead just over seven minutes into the game, 18-8.  Lourdes answered with a 9-2 run to pull within three, only to see the Mustangs answer with 10 straight points of their own, extending their advantage to 30-17 with 6:39 to play in the first half.  The Gray Wolves went on another 10-0 run of their own to close within three before halftime before trailing 43-37 at the break.
 
Marygrove extended its lead back to nine, 55-46, with 12:52 to play before Lourdes went on a 14-4 run, taking the lead for the first time in the game with 9:19 to play on a Johnson lay-in.  The game would change hands 11 times and be tied on seven occasions down the stretch, the final time coming with two minutes to play with the game knotted at 77.
 
Lourdes scored six straight points, starting with a pair of free throws by Blackwell with 1:32 remaining.  After a Marygrove miss, Blackwell tallied an old-fashioned three-point play with 48 ticks remaining on the clock, giving the Gray Wolves the insurance they would need.
 
The Gray Wolves finished the game shooting 43.5% from the floor and committed just 10 turnovers.  Lourdes went to the free throw line 35 times, making 25, to aid in the comeback.  Marygrove connected at a 43.8% clip and made 12 three-pointers, but committed 15 miscues.  Lourdes held a 60-26 advantage scoring inside.
 
"We talked at halftime about taking it to the basket, getting to the free throw line, and getting them in foul trouble," Smith added.  "We got their big guys in foul trouble in the second half."
 
Ta'Kein Dixon led Marygrove (4-23, 4-15 WHAC) with 30 points, making eight shots from beyond the arc, while Isaac Gillum added 21 points.  Diante Taylor added 13 points for the Mustangs.
 
Lourdes (10-16, 5-14) will continue its three-game road trip on Saturday afternoon as the Gray Wolves head to Livonia, Mich. to battle Madonna.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at The Activities Center.