Photo courtesy of Taylor Huizenga.

In a game that was close throughout, 13^th-ranked Lourdes came up on the short end of a 68-63 decision at Cornerstone on Wednesday evening inside of Mol Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
"We played well tonight, but we just made some mistakes on the free throw box out and didn't make enough free throws on our end," head coach Dennis Hopson said afterwards.  "We have to continue to get better."
 
Lourdes took the lead early, and built a five-point advantage, 18-13, after Nick Welch (Temperance, Mich./Saint Mary Catholic Central H.S.) scored two of his 13 first half points.  Cornerstone responded with an 11-2 run to pull in front by four by the five-minute mark of the opening stanza and then scored the final five points before halftime to take a 31-26 lead into the locker room.
 
The Gray Wolves quickly tied the game at 31 after the break before the Golden Eagles rebuilt a six-point advantage, 38-32.  An 8-1 Lourdes run put the Gray Wolves back in front 45-43 with 10 minutes to play.  Cornerstone again answered, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to build a seven-point edge with 6:45 remaining.
 
Trailing by five with less than two minutes to play, Julian Egbo (Toledo, Ohio/Rogers H.S.) scored back-to-back baskets to make it 61-60 with under a minute remaining.  Cornerstone responded with a three-point play inside before Mike Bruce (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti H.S.) pulled Lourdes back within one with a triple with 13 ticks left on the clock.
 
The Golden Eagles made the first free throw at the other end, missed the second, but got an offensive rebound and converted two more free throws with five seconds remaining to secure the win.
 
Welch led Lourdes with 14 points on 6-of-9, while McRay White (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights H.S.) added 10 more.  Clif Snow (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown H.S.) handed out six assists.
 
The Gray Wolves shot 44.7% from the floor but made just 15-of-26 (57.7%) from the free throw line.
 
Cory Ainsworth led Cornerstone (16-11, 10-8 WHAC) with 15 points while Christian Rodriguez added 13 more.
 
Lourdes (19-8, 12-5) returns home to the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon, as the Gray Wolves host Rochester (Mich.).  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.