AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team fought-hard against unbeaten Keiser University, falling to the Seahawks 66-61 on Thursday night. The matchup was the Sun Conference opener for both squads.
 
The Blue and Green fall to 0-7 on the season and to 0-1 in Sun Conference play while Keiser moves to 4-0 overall and to 1-0 in TSC matchups.
 
Solid defense in the opening minutes allowed the Gyrenes to jump out to an early advantage when Nate Krimsky banked in a jumper in the paint to put AMU in front 9-4. A few minutes later, Exor Torres nailed a three to keep the advantage at six, 12-6. Keiser responded with a 10-0 run to take a 16-12 lead midway through the opening half.
 
Trailing by eight, the Blue and Green made back-to-back baskets on a jumper by Torres and a three by Eric Richardson to cut the deficit to three, 22-19, with 5:49 to play in the half. The Seahawks ended the half on an 8-1 run to take a 31-23 lead into the break.
 
The Gyrenes used a 7-1 run in the opening 3:18 of the second half to get within two, 31-29, and eventually tied the game at 40-40 at the 9:51 mark of the half. Keiser responded with three quick baskets to break the tie, 47-40. Ave Maria kept within striking distance the rest of the half and rallied closed the gap to three late in the game but Keiser made enough free throws down the stretch to hold of the Gyrenes, 66-61.
 
Exor Torres finished with 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including making four of his six attempts from behind the arc. He also tallied three assists and a steal. Martez Harris finished with a double-double after scoring 13 points and grabbing a season-best 12 rebounds. He also had four assists. The double-double is the first of the season for Harris.
 
Julian Adams and Nate Krimsky each added eight points.
 
Ave Maria shot 34.9 percent from the field and was 7-of-20 from three. Keiser finished 37-of-56 from the field and made seven threes on 22 attempts. The Seahawks were 17-of-34 from the free throw line.
 
Stanley Whittaker led four Seahawks in double-figures with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Deion McClenton also finished with a double-double in the game with 10 points and 11 boards.
 
The Gyrenes return to action on Saturday when they travel to Thomasville, Ga., to take on Thomas University in a TSC contest. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.