AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team fell at Johnson & Wales, 58-51, on Thursday night. Brandon Dean and Exor Torres led AMU with 13 points and 11 points, respectively. The Blue and Green return to the court on Saturday night when they host rival Webber International.
 
Wendell Powell recorded eight points for AMU while Jelani Bonner added seven points and five rebounds for the Gyrenes.
 
The Gyrenes shot 46.5 percent from the field, making 20-of-43 attempts, and made 5-of-12 from behind the arc. Johnson & Wales shot at a 48.7 percent clip from the field and made 6-of-19 from three. The Wildcats made 14-of-14 from the free throw line compared to 6-of-9 from the Blue and Green.
 
Ricardo Suarez led the Johnson & Wales with 15 points and seven rebounds. He was the lone Wildcat to score in double-figures. Luke Walters tallied eight points and six assists for JWU.
 
The teams went back-and-forth for most of the opening half before the Johnson & Wales built a six points lead, 24-18, with 3:09 to play in the half. The Blue and Green responded with treys by Dean and Torres to give AMU a two point lead, 26-24, with 17 second left in the half. A late basket by JWU tied the game at 26-26 heading into the break.
 
In the second half, Johnson & Wales jumped out to a seven point lead, 39-32, with 13:16 remaining. The Gyrenes chipped away at the JWU lead and eventually took the lead, 42-41, on a Powell jumper at the 7:58 mark. Johnson & Wales responded on an 8-0 run to take a 49-42 lead with 5:12 remaining. The Blue and Green pulled to within a basket on multiple occasions down the stretch but weren't able to retake the lead.