Joliet, Ill. – Trailing by nine points at half time, 44-35, the Saint Xavier University men's basketball team (6-2, 2-0 CCAC) rallied back in the second half and led by three points, 79-76, with five seconds left in regulation, however they could not hold on and lost to Lourdes University (Ohio), 80-79 in University of St. Francis (Ill.) Thanksgiving Classic Sunday afternoon at the Sullivan Center in Joliet, Ill. The Cougars were down by 14 points, 53-39, at the 16:12 mark of the second half before chipping away and taking the lead, 66-65 after a pair of made free throws by junior forward Davion Lawrence (Oak Lawn, Ill./Moraine Valley/Oak Lawn Community) with 4:52 remaining. SXU held its lead until the closing seconds before fouls allowed the Gray Wolves to go 7-of-8, including 6-for-6 in the final seven seconds, to come away with the win.

• Senior forward Kevin Bishop (Cleveland, Ohio/Pikeville/Parkland/Cleveland Benedictine) was the leading scorer for Saint Xavier, finishing with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting. He added six rebounds and a pair of steals.
• Lawrence scored 11 points with six rebounds and a season-best five blocked shots.
• Junior guard DJ Shelton (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/UTTC/Thornridge) also scored in double-figures with 10 points, was 4-for-4 from the foul line, and had three rebounds.
• Senior forward Andre Brandon (Coralville, Iowa/Sauk Valley/Liberty) grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds with nine points, two assists and a steal.
• Senior guard Sando Hill (Vanoss, Okla./Lyon/Seminole State/Vanoss) collected nine points, a career-high tying five steals, four assists, four rebounds and a pair of blocks.
• Senior guard Jordan Jackson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northwood/Wilmington/East Kentwood) also recorded nine points, as well as three rebounds and a steal.
• Fifth-year senior guard Julian Barr (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Land/Lincoln-Way East) came away with seven points, two rebounds and a steal, while redshirt sophomore guard Mason Kibelkis (Peotone, Ill./Peotone) added six points, a rebound and a steal.

Saint Xavier (6-2, 2-0 CCAC) returns to the Shannon Center to host Governors State University (Ill.) in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action on Saturday, December 7. The game is slated for a 3:00 pm start.