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Senior forward Lorenzo Cugini scored 15 fourth-quarter points in leading St. Vincent-St. Mary's boys basketball team to a win Saturday night at Buchtel. This image is from Cugini's sophomore season.

AKRON, Ohio – St. Vincent-St. Mary boys basketball coach Dru Joyce had a simple message for his team as it was about to start the fourth quarter against the Buchtel Griffins with the game tied.

“Get the ball into Lorenzo,” Joyce said to the players sitting in front of him on the bench.

They did, and 6-foot-7 senior forward Lorenzo Cugini responded.  The result: a 64-52 win by the Fighting Irish over the Griffins before a sellout crowd at Buchtel High School.

Cugini had a monster fourth quarter with 15 points and six rebounds.  For the game, Cugini had 17 points and 17 rebounds.

“Lorenzo hadn’t gotten many touches in the third period,” Joyce said. “I told them to get the ball to Lorenzo, he’s our best player.  He scored enough to give us the kind of lead that we need.”

Cugini scored the first two baskets in the fourth quarter to give the Irish a 44-42 lead.  His second basket started an 8-0 run by St. Vincent-St. Mary that stretched the advantage to 50-42.

With Cugini playing on the block he was able to draw fouls from the Buchtel defenders.  In the fourth quarter, Cugini sank 7-of-8 free throws.  The senior wrapped up the game with an old-fashioned 3-point play with 37 seconds to go.

“When we started the fourth quarter it was a close game,” Cugini said. “Coach said ‘Lorenzo didn’t get many touches in the third quarter, so get him the ball.’  When I got the ball I had to finish.  I gotta help us win this game. We were able to hold our composure and get good shots.”

St. Vincent-St. Mary has put together back-to-back wins and stands at 8-6 on the season.  Are the Fighting Irish starting to put things together?

“Guys are stepping up, that’s what you have to do,” Joyce said.  “Guys stepped up when Lorenzo was missing eight or nine games.  Now with Victor (Dorsey) out, guys stepped up again.”

Joyce is worried that Dorsey could be out a couple of weeks with a knee problem.

Buchtel Coach Stephen White didn’t understand why his team didn’t take it to the Fighting Irish defense.

“We never attacked them at all, at all,” White said.  “Once we would get something good to happen, then we’d miss a layup or we’d miss layups in key situations.”

The Irish had two other players in double-figures as Nick Wells had 15 points and seven rebounds.  Jordan Hargrove added 15.

Buchtel was led by Elijah Bell with 20.  Earon Cosey added 10 points.

The Fighting Irish will host Kenmore on Tuesday night.  Buchtel sees their four-game winning streak come to an end.  Their record is 5-5.