Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Aquinas men's basketball team nearly upended the undefeated and #20 ranked Lourdes Gray Wolves on Saturday (Dec. 9) in the Sturrus Center. Overcoming an eight-point first half deficit and eventually opening an eight-point lead of their own, the Saints could not close out the Gray Wolves in the final minute, falling by an 80-76 score.

It was a terrific battle in the nightcap of the Holiday Hoops doubleheader. AQ's women earned a thrilling 74-72 come-from-behind victory and it appeared the men would do the same. Lourdes (9-0, 5-0 WHAC) made just an extra play or two to hold off the feisty Saints (5-4, 2-3 WHAC) in a great conference contest.

Andrew Larson paced Aquinas with a team-high 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. He also took on the primary defensive assignment against Lourdes' Jackie Harris, the WHAC's leading scorer who entered the game averaging better than 27 points per contest. Larson and the Saints helped limit Harris to just 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting; the sharpshooter made just 1-of-4 three-pointers, as well.

DeAndre Francis neared a double-double with 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals, three blocks, and two assists in a great all-around effort. He made 6-of-11 field goals. Devon Boyd handed out a career-high 10 assists and scored eight points with three steals, while Jared Lary added eight points off the bench.

There were 10 lead changes and nine tie scores in the game, with seven lead changes and six ties coming in a back-and-forth first half. Lourdes moved in front 25-17 at the 8:29 mark for its largest lead of the game. A layup from Francis and a Ryan Weir three-pointer brought AQ within a bucket at 27-25 with 6:25 to go. Donovan Brown-Boyd's three-pointer gave the Saints a 33-32 cushion in the final three minutes of the half.

The teams would go to the half tied at 41-all. Aquinas shot 55.6 percent in the first half, while Lourdes connected on 53.1 percent of its attempts.

The Gray Wolves were in front 56-51 at the 13-minute mark, but AQ was starting to make its run. Trailing 61-58, the Saints notched a 10-0 surge on a jumper and three-pointer from Lary, a triple from Tommy Gregwer, and a jumper in the paint from Francis. Minutes later, an old-fashioned three-point play from Larson gave Aquinas a 73-65 advantage, its largest lead of the day. 

Lary's two free throws with 3:53 remaining gave Auqinas a 76-71 edge, but unfortunately those were the Saints' final points of the game. Neither team scored for two minutes when Lourdes scored on consecutive possessions to take a 77-76 edge with 37 seconds to play. The Saints had a few good looks at shot attempts in the paint, including a great out-of-bounds alley-oop play, but AQ was unable to connect.

Two free throws from the Gray Wolves with one second to play made the 80-76 final score stand up, spoiling Aquinas' potential upset.

AQ ended up shooting 46.6 percent from the field and outshot Lourdes (7-4) in made three-pointers. The Saints also made as many free throws (15-of-21) as Lourdes attempted (12-of-15). LU held a 41-30 rebounding advantage and a 15-8 edge on the offensive glass, which converted to a 20-4 margin in second chance points.

Gregwer hit both of his three-point attempts for seven points; Brown-Boyd also chipped in seven points and sank a pair of trifectas. Samuel Medendorp totaled six points in seven minutes off the bench. AQ's bench outscored Lourdes' reserves, 24-12.

The Saints return to action next Saturday (Dec. 16) at 3:00 p.m. against Lawrence Tech in the Sturrus Center.