Cornerstone Snaps Lourdes Eight-Game Win Streak on Senior Night - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Cornerstone Snaps Lourdes Eight-Game Win Streak on Senior Night

PERRYSBURG - Lourdes University's men's basketball team saw its school-record setting eight-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday evening as Cornerstone spoiled Senior Night for the Gray Wolves with a 75-63 victory at the Student Health & Activities Center on the campus of Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio.

"I was very disappointed with our lack of effort, especially with this being Senior Night," head coach Andre Smith said after the contest.  "We had no energy tonight.  Give Cornerstone all of the credit.  They came out with a great deal of energy, got after it, and shot the lots out.  They beat us soundly."

Lourdes fell behind quickly, shooting just 26.9% from the floor over the opening 20 minutes.  Conversely, the Golden Eagles shot the ball at a 58.1% clip for the game.

A 20-4 run over nine minutes gave Cornerstone a 16-point lead, 22-6, at the 8:55 mark, and the Gray Wolves would trail by double figures the rest of the way until the final two minutes.  The Golden Eagles lead increased to 26, 35-9, at the 3:14 mark of the opening stanza before Lourdes scored six of the final eight points  in the half and trailed 37-15 at the break.

The Gray Wolves closed to within 20 early in the second half only to see Cornerstone score the next seven points.  The Golden Eagles lead great to as many as 29, 57-28, before Lourdes tried to claw back.

A 13-0 run, started with a four-point possession following a Golden Eagle intentional foul, cut the deficit to 12, 59-47, with just under eight minutes to play.  After the lead grew back to 16, Lourdes went on one last run, scoring eight straight points, and, following a three-pointer by Corey Harvey (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson H.S.), was within eight, 68-60, with just under two minutes to play.

Cornerstone answered with a deep three-pointer as the shot clock expired on its next possession and made four free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.

Harvey led Lourdes with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Elvin Butler (Akron, Ohio/East H.S.) added 11 points off of the bench.  Dorel Sutherland (Toronto, Ont./Ascension H.S.) tallied 10 points for the Gray Wolves.

Wes Hudson led Cornerstone (20-10, 14-8 WHAC) with 28 points, making 9-of-12 shots from the floor and all seven of his free throw attempts, and handed out six assists.  Alex Lyle came off of the bench to score 11 points while Derek Kingshott added 10 more points.

"We need to put this behind us and get ready for Thursday night," Smith concluded.

Lourdes (21-8, 16-6) will host a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference quarterfinal game for the first time in program history on Thursday evening.  The Gray Wolves will enter the tournament as the third seed, with official pairings announced by the league office either Sunday or Monday.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.