AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team jumped out to a 41-23 first half lead to cruise to a 57-44 win on Friday night against Trinity College (Fla.). The Blue and Green move to 5-1 on the season with the victory.
 
Jelani Bonner led the Gyrenes with 17 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Dean added 15 points while Wendell Powell tallied 11 points.
 
The Gyrenes came out firing, increasing their lead to 10, 18-8, less than nine minutes into the game on a Bonner jumper. On the next possess, a Dean three put AMU up 13.  This was part on a 12-0 run for the Blue and Green.
 
Eric Richardson hit a three with 2:44 remaining to give the Gyrenes a game-high 22 points lead, 39-17.
 
AMU wasn't able to pull away from Trinity College in the second half but maintained a comfortable lead for most of the half. The Tigers pulled withing 11, 55-44, late in the game.
 
AMU shot 51.2 percent from the field but committed 27 turnovers in the win. The Gyrene defense held the Tigers to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor. The Blue and Green dominated points in the paint 28-10.

The Gyrenes return to the court on Tuesday when they travel to Temple Terrace to take on Florida College.