WARRIORS TAKEN DOWN AT HOME BY #14 LOURDES

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - Rochester (11-5, 6-4) struggled to overcome stout defense and paint play by the #14 Lourdes Gray Wolves (13-1, 9-1) in an 82-59 loss on Saturday evening. After a frenetic first half from both teams, the Gray Wolves controlled the glass to give themselves a significant advantage.

Guard Anthony Cukaj and forward Brett White led the way for Rochester with 11 points each, and center Stavros Polatoglou logged seven points and seven rebounds. The Gray Wolves had four players score in double figure, with guard Shaunn Monroe pacing Lourdes at 30 points.

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• Both teams started off with some strong defense, but the Gray Wolves got two early threes to fall. A quick answer by Polatoglou on an open dunk helped keep things close to start the half. Following a quick timeout by Lourdes, the Gray Wolves started to find open buckets in transition to get ahead by nine
• The Gray Wolves took control of the offensive glass, not giving Rochester any opportunity to capitalize in transition. Lourdes went on a 12-4 run to end the half, but guard Brody Parker hit a buzzer-beating layup

SECOND HALF

• Lourdes used a barrage of threes to take a commanding lead straight out of the second half, and the Warriors couldn't recover. Missed layups by the Warriors were punished on the other end, and Lourdes got far out ahead
• Guard Zane Draper would hit a three with four minutes remaining off a find by guard Gunner Walters, but things didn't get much closer for the Warriors from there, with Lourdes keeping the lead above 20

POSTGAME PRESSER

Head Coach Klint Pleasant had this to say on the game:

"When you allow 21 points on second shots and you only shoot 18% from behind the arc in your own gym, you aren't going to beat a good team. We shut down the two players we keyed on, but our play was so poor in other areas that it didn't matter.

The season always presents tough stretches. We can allow it to be a teacher and get better, or we can let it compound. The majority of our players were here last year and have shown what they can do when they are focused."

STAT OF THE GAME

The Warriors were outrebounded 49-26, with Lourdes scoring 21 second-chance points.

UP NEXT

Rochester travels to Ohio for a Wednesday night game against the UNOH Racers on Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics