Lourdes cut a 12-point second half deficit to two on Friday evening, but Madonna staved off the rally to defeat the Gray Wolves 84-76 inside the Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena in Livonia, Mich.
 
"We beat ourselves tonight and made too many little mistakes," head coach Dennis Hopson said afterwards.
 
The Gray Wolves started strong, scoring the game's first five points and held a 14-11 lead five minutes into the contest as Stephen Coleman Jr. (Toledo, Ohio/Hillcrest Prep H.S.) scored 10 of the team's first 14 points.
 
Lourdes still held the lead, 19-18, with under 12 minutes to play in the opening stanza when Madonna scored the next five points to take its first lead of the game, and advantage they would not surrender the rest of the way.  The Crusaders slowly increased their advantage, taking a 10-point edge, 37-27, in the final two minutes of the stanza.  The Gray Wolves battled back to within six, 39-33, though.
 
Madonna maintained its advantage into the second half, extending the advantage to 12, 60-48, with 11 minutes to play.  Lourdes responded, scoring the next 10 points, pulling to within two with eight minutes remaining.  The Crusaders would not allow the Gray Wolves to pull even though, and extended the lead back to nine, 77-68, with under two minutes to play.
 
Lourdes tried to rally again, with Little Anderson (Toledo, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch H.S.) hitting two late three-pointers to pull the Gray Wolves within four, 80-76, with 38 seconds remaining.  Madonna would score the game's final four points though to secure the win.
 
Joey Holifield (Toledo, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch H.S.) led all scorers with 27 points, including an 11-for-15 effort from the free throw line.  Anderson added 12 points while Coleman finished with 10.
 
Mark Mettie led five Madonna (9-3, 6-2 WHAC) players in double figures with 18 points while RJ Nunn and Blake Banks each added 12.
 
Lourdes (8-3, 4-3) will return home on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves host East-West in a non-conference tilt.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.