Tyler Schmidt's baseline jumper as time expired lifted 11^th-ranked Olivet Nazarene to a 90-88 victory over Lourdes in the opening round of the 2022 NAIA National Championships held inside of McHie Arena in Bourbonnais, Ill.
 
Lourdes rallied from a 10-point second half deficit, tying the game at 88 on Charles Swain's (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill H.S.) three-pointer from the left corner with just over seconds remaining in regulation.  The Tigers then pushed the ball to the front court and called timeout with 6.0 left on the clock, setting up the game-winning shot.
 
"We played a great game in all areas," head coach Dennis Hopson said following the game.  "I am super proud of these guys and the effort they gave all year."
 
Olivet Nazarene (31-3) built and early 9-4 lead before the Gray Wolves scored the next seven points, taking their first lead of the day following a Swain triple.  Lourdes pushed the lead to as many as eight, 29-21, at the 7:45 mark of the first half before the Tigers answered with a 22-6 run of its own to close the first half.  The hosts took a 43-35 lead into the locker room.
 
The Tigers increased the lead to 10, 50-40, early in the second half before Lourdes scored the next seven points as the Gray Wolves began to battle back.  Lourdes was within one, 61-60, after a McRay White (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights H.S.) dunk, only to see the Tigers score the next nine points to push the lead back to 10.
 
Lourdes (24-8) still trailed by eight, 83-75, before going on a late run.  Eight straight points, capped with a pair of free throws by Nick Welch (Temperance, Mich./Saint Mary Catholic Central H.S.) tied the game at 83 heading into the final minute.
 
Olivet Nazarene took the lead on an Alex Gross basket with 51 ticks remaining and pushed the lead to three when Gross made the front end of a one-and-one with 18 seconds left before Swain's game-tying triple in the closing seconds.
 
White led Lourdes with 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting while Joey Holifield (Toledo, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch H.S.) added 18 more.  Welch had 17 points while Little Anderson (Toledo, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch H.S.) chipped in 14 for the Gray Wolves.  Lourdes shot 54.1% from the floor for the game, including 8-of-19 (42.1%) from three-point range.  The Gray Wolves also committed just seven turnovers.
 
Gross led Olivet Nazarene with 25 points and 10 rebounds while Schmidt added 23 more.  The Tigers shot 60.7% from the field, including 57.1% (8-of-14) from three-point range.