AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team (7-6, 0-2 TSC) returns to Sun Conference action with a pair of end of the week contests. The Gyrenes will host St. Thomas (5-6, 0-2 TSC) on Thursday night before traveling to second-ranked Embry-Riddle (14-0, 2-0 TSC) on Saturday.
 
GYRENES RECAP
 
The Blue and Green began the week with a 61-59 setback to the visiting Conquistadors of Florida National on Monday night. The Gyrenes, who led the entire game until the final buzzer, fell on a last second tip in by FNU.
 
Jelani Bonner made 12-of-19 from the field en route to 25 points. He also grabbed five rebounds and had three steals. Brandon Dean finished with 11 points while Brandon Pasker and Eric Richardson chipped in eight points and seven points, respectively.
 
The Gyrenes shot 50 percent from the field compared to 43.1 percent by the Conquistadors but were outrebounded 35-23.
 
Despite giving up seven more points than their season average, the Gyrenes continue to lead the NAIA is scoring defense, allowing just over 55 points a game. The Blue and Green also grab a NAIA-leading 27 defensive boards a game.
 
GYRENE CATEGORY LEADERS
 
Points – Jelani Bonner, 15.2 PPG
Rebounds – Jelani Bonner, 8.4 RPG
Assists – Nate Krimsky, 22 Assists
Steals – Exor Torres, 22 Steals
Blocks – Nate Krimsky, 7 Blocks
 
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
 
St. Thomas comes into Thursday night's matchup with a 5-6 overall record and a 0-2 mark in conference play. The Bobcats are currently on a two-game skid after losses to Edward Waters, 77-72, and Bethel (Ind.), 80-71.
 
Michael Walker leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game. He also has totaled 26 steals on the season. Lorel Beckford will be a force down low for STU. Beckford is pulling in nine boards a game and is averaging 3.6 offensive rebounds a game which is good for seventh in the NAIA.
 
The Gyrenes will have to protect the ball against the Bobcats. STU ranks sixth in the NAIA in steals per game (10.6) and second in turnover margin 6.6.
 
SCOUTING EMBRY-RIDDLE
 
Embry-Riddle has emerged from its non-conference schedules unscathed and with a perfect 14-0 mark. The Eagles are 2-0 in conference play with wins over Webber International and Warner.
 
The Eagles are led by a pair of seniors in Cesar Pastrana and DeForest Carter. Pastrana is averaging nearly 15 points a game and is grabbing eight rebounds per game. The center ranks fourth in the NAIA in field goal percentage, making shots at a 65.5 percent clip. Carter leads the NAIA in steals per game (3.8) and ranks second with 49 total steals. He also leads the Eagles in assists with 90 and blocks with 14 on the year.
 
As a team, the Eagles rank in the top 10 in several categories including assists per game (20.5), steals per game (10.9), field goal percentage (.510), scoring defense (61.2), scoring margin (19.9), and total rebound margin (8.6).
 
AMU HIGHLIGHTS AND NAIA DIVISION II NATIONAL RANKINGS (AS OF 1/7)
 
TEAM RANKINGS
 

• Ranks Number 1 in Division II in Scoring Defense per Game (55.308)
• Ranks Number 1 in Division II in Total Rebound Defense (27.000)
• Ranks Number 2 in Division II in Field Goal Pct Defense (0.368)
• Ranks Number 21 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.313)
• Ranks Number 33 in Division II in Total Rebound Margin (5.077)
• Ranks Number 40 in Division II in Free Throw Pct (0.714)
• Ranks Number 46 in Division II in Scoring Margin (7.154)

 
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
 

• Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 19 in Division II in Field Goal Pct (0.579)
• Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 27 in Division II in Total Rebounds per Game (8.385)
• Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 29 in Division II in Defensive Rebounds per Game (5.769)
• Brandon Dean Ranks Number 31 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.465)
• Exor Torres Ranks Number 49 in Division II in Steals per Game (1.833)