After a two-week hiatus, Lourdes returned to action on Saturday afternoon, defeating NCAA Division II Grand Valley State 73-63 in an exhibition game inside the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale, Mich.
 
The Gray Wolves battled back from a six-point halftime deficit, shooting nearly 52% from the floor over the final 20 minutes to earn the win.
 
Grand Valley State never trailed in the opening stanza, and used a 14-5 run late in the half to build a 10-point lead, 33-23, on the way to a 34-28 advantage at intermission.
 
The lead was pushed back to nine early in the second half before Lourdes scored six straight points to pull within three at the 16-minute mark.  The Lakers maintained the lead until the 11-minute mark when Shaunn Monroe (Charleston, W. Va./Fairborn [Ohio] H.S.) jumped gave the Gray Wolves their first lead of the game, 47-46.
 
After Grand Valley State responded with a basket, Lourdes scored the next six points to take a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.  A 13-2 run pushed the lead to 12, 69-57, with two minutes to play and the Gray Wolves closed out the win.
 
Joey Holifield (Toledo, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch H.S.) led Lourdes with 21 points while Monroe and Jackie Harris (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales H.S.) added 19 points each.  Ethan Damerum (Cressage, England/Charnwood Riders H.S.) added 12 points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.
 
"Ethan did a great job today," head coach Dennis Hopson said afterwards.
 
Trevon Gunter led Grand Valley State (4-7) with 20 points.
 
Lourdes (10-0) returns home to the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves host Lawrence Tech in regular season action.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.