SYLVANIA, Ohio – Lourdes men's basketball (18-7, 12-7 in WHAC) fell 71 to 89 against Indiana Tech (18-6, 14-5 in WHAC) at the Ebeid Rec Center on Wednesday evening.

The Gray Wolves were playing in front of their biggest home crowd of the season, with almost 200 people packed into the Ebeid Rec Center to watch the crucial conference showdown.

Lourdes also hosted multiple winter sports senior nights at halftime of the game, including the golf, cross-country and bowling programs. There was also a dance performance by the local children's dance club, Company C Dance Company.

The atmosphere inside the gym was strong from the start. The crowd's turnout was solid and loud early, with constant reactions to big plays and defensive stops. You could hear shouting from both benches and fans throughout the night, and the energy felt especially high during Lourdes scoring runs and after big dunks.

Coming into the matchup, the recent head-to-head history between Lourdes and Indiana Tech had been competitive. Based on recent meetings, the series had been even at 5 to 5, with both teams trading wins across recent seasons. That balance showed again in stretches on Wednesday, despite the final score being a double-digit Warriors victory.

The game had multiple momentum swings and several standout individual performances on both sides. The main difference was the paint scoring and the rebounding that came from Indiana Tech. The Warriors remain in 2^nd in the conference while Lourdes drops to 4^th for the first time this year.

1^st Half
The first half was high scoring and fast-paced. From the opening minutes, Indiana Tech shot the ball extremely well and established an offensive rhythm early. They attacked inside effectively and converted at a high percentage from the field. Lead by guard Blake Davison with 12 first half points, Indiana Tech was shooting lights out.

Lourdes stayed within reach through perimeter shooting and effort plays. There were multiple possessions where ball movement created open looks from three, and those shots helped prevent the lead from growing too quickly. Most of Lourdes' first half rhythm came through sophomore guard Derek Fairley and senior guard/forward Stephen Coleman Jr., each of whom had eight first half points.

Coleman Jr. had 11 total points and three rebounds, fouling out before the end of the game. Fairley also had 11 points and a career-high five steals.

Indiana Tech's efficiency was the biggest separator in the half. They finished the first half ahead 44 to 36, largely because of their paint scoring. Lourdes competed hard but had difficulty matching Indiana Tech's interior production and rebounding presence during several stretches.

2^nd Half
The second half opened with renewed intensity from Lourdes. There were more aggressive drives, quicker defensive rotations, and better transition pushes. The bench was active and vocal, and the crowd responded when Lourdes began to cut the margin to single digits at the beginning of the first half.

Freshman guard/forward Karter Koester had one of the most noticeable performances of the night, stepping into shots confidently and scoring from multiple levels. He shot 67% from the three-point line and had 19 second half points to keep the Gray Wolves within distance. Koester led the team with a career-high 24 points total on the night, bringing his season average up to 9.9 per game.

However, each time Lourdes made a push, Indiana Tech answered with efficient offense. Their shot selection remained disciplined, and they continued finishing inside. They were led in the second half by guard/forward Jaxson Fugate with 18 second half points. Fugate led all scorers with 27 points and consistently scored in the paint to help the Warriors pull away with the 18-point victory.

Stats
Indiana Tech's efficiency was the biggest statistical difference in the game, shooting an impressive 58% from the field and 75% from the charity stripe. Lourdes was held to 39% from the field and 53% from the line. The Gray Wolves did outshoot the Warriors 37% to 36% from the three-point line, however.

Overall, the game felt closer for long stretches than the final margin showed. The energy from the crowd and multiple momentum-shifting Lourdes runs in the first half made the environment feel competitive throughout.

Next Up
The Gray Wolves will try to move back into the top-three seeds in the conference with a crucial matchup on Valentine's Day at 3pm against Lawrence Tech. The Blue Devils are a game back from Lourdes in the standings.