Lourdes began the 2019-2020 season, and the Dennis Hopson coaching era, on Saturday evening, scoring a 99-81 victory over Harris-Stowe to conclude Homecoming weekend inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
Clif Snow (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown H.S.) poured in 36 points, including 16-of-17 from the free throw line, and grabbed nine rebounds, leading four Gray Wolves in double figures.  Kenny Coleman (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Francis de Sales H.S.) added 19 points while McRay White (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights H.S.) and Nick Welch (Temperance, Mich./Saint Mary Catholic Central H.S.) each contributed 11 points.
 
"I thought we did some good things tonight," Hopson said after the win.  "The guys did an excellent job winning both halves and executing some of the offense we put in.  Our transition defense has to get better though and we need to do a better job of guarding in the paint.  We've practiced 31 times thus far and just need more reps."
 
The Gray Wolves led the entire opening 20 minutes, as Snow opened the game with two three-pointers sandwiched around a triple from Coleman over Lourdes' first four possessions as the hosts built a quick 9-4 lead.  Harris-Stowe tied the game at 11.  The Gray Wolves maintained a one-to-three point advantage most of the first half before a triple from Bryce McComb (Swanton, Ohio/Swanton H.S.) pushed the lead to seven, 30-23, with 6:30 to play before halftime.
 
Again, the Hornets battled back, tying the game at 36 before Lourdes scored the next seven points.  Harris-Stowe closed the half with the final six points of the stanza to pull within one, 43-42, at intermission.
 
The visitors started the second half quickly, taking their only lead of the game and pushing their advantage to five, 56-51, with 51:17 to play.  Lourdes answered with the next 12 points, six coming from White, to retake the lead for good.  The lead grew to double figures, 71-61, following a three-point play by Charles Swain (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill H.S.) with 8:34 remaining.
 
Harris-Stowe (1-1) had one last run, closing to within a point, 77-76, with just under five minutes to play, and had the basketball, but the Gray Wolves forced a miss and Snow made two free throws to begin a 20-3 run over the next four minutes.  The run was aided by eight consecutive free throws, six by Snow and two by Coleman, at the 1:28 mark as the Hornets were assessed three technical fouls.
 
Lourdes finished the game shooting 57.1% from the floor, including 66.7% after halftime.  The Gray Wolves also made 27-of-31 (87.1%) of their free throws.
 
Duane Clark Jr. led Harris-Stowe with 20 points while De'Shawn Munson added 14 points, 10 assists, and six steals.
 
Lourdes (1-0) won its season opener for the sixth time in the last seven years.  The Gray Wolves will remain at home on Tuesday evening, hosting 24^th-ranked Saint Francis (Ind.).  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. inside the Ebeid Rec Center.