THOMASVILLE, Ga. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team defeated Thomas (Ga.) 58-56 on Saturday afternoon. Wendell Powell led the Blue and Green with 14 points and eight rebounds as the Gyrenes improve to 9-11 on the season and to 2-7 in Sun Conference play.
 
Wendell Powell made four-of-six from the floor and was six-of-eight from the free throw line in the win. Brandon Dean added 10 points and a pair of assists. Jelani Bonner had eight points and five rebounds.
 
The Blue and Green shot 50 percent from the field (20-of-40) and from behind the arc (7-of-14). The AMU defense held Thomas to 35.6 percent shooting (21-of-59) from the field and 23.8 percent from three (5-of-21).
 
It took both teams a few minutes to warm up, as Thomas held a slim 7-6 lead on the Gyrenes 5:27 into the game. The Gyrenes got the Night Hawk lead back to one on a couple of occasions in the opening half but weren't able to take a lead and went into the break trailing by five, 28-23.
 
AMU began the second half on a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer by Brandon Dean to put the Blue and Green in front 30-28. After a Thomas three, Exor Torres hit a try to retake the lead for AMU 33-31.
 
The teams went back-and-forth for the remainder of the half. The second half featured four ties and 10 lead changes. The Blue and Green took the lead for good with 1:58 remaining when Powell made a basket in the paint and the free throw for the and-one to break a tie and put AMU ahead by three, 57-54. AMU held off Thomas in the final two minutes and went on to win 58-56.
 
Thomas was coming off a week that featured Night Hawk wins over No. 2 and previously undefeated Embry-Riddle and No. 20 Northwood.
 
The Gyrenes return to the court on Thursday, January 29, when they travel to North Miami to take on Johnson & Wales at 7:30 p.m.