WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team gave the 20th-ranked Northwood University Seahawks all they could handle on Tuesday night before falling behind late for a 52-40 loss in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Blue and Green fall to 8-10 overall and to 1-6 in Sun Conference play.
 
Wendell Powell led the Gyrenes with eight points followed by Exor Torres with seven points and Joseph Guernsey and Jelani Bonner with six points apiece. Bonner also grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
 
The Gyrenes shot 32.6 percent from the field and made 2-of-14 from behind the arc. Northwood shot 40 percent from the field and made six from three (33.3 percent)
 
The Blue and Green got off to a good start with Brandon Barnes making a three on the Gyrenes' opening possession followed by back-to-back jumpers by Guernsey to put AMU in front 7-2. However, Northwood would go on an 18-2 run in the middle of the first half to take a 20-9 lead on the Gyrenes.
 
Ave Maria cut the Northwood lead back to single digits and trailed by eight, 27-19, at the half.
 
The Gyrene defense got the Blue and Green back in the game in the second half, holding Northwood to just four points over the first eight minutes of the half. After back-to-back baskets by Bonner tied the game at 29, a three by Torres put AMU ahead 32-29 with 12:29 remaining in the game.
 
With the Blue and Green leading 36-35 with 8:07 remaining, Northwood closed the game on a 17-4 to defeat the Gyrenes 52-40.
 
The Gyrenes return to the court on Thursday when they welcome Warner University to Tom Golisano Field House for a 7 p.m. tip.