THOMASVILLE, Ga. --- Senior forward Nate Krimsky tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks to help John Lamanna post his first win as Ave Maria men's basketball head coach with a 71-60 victory at Thomas on Saturday afternoon.
 
Exor Torres added 15 points and six rebounds for the Blue and Green. He was 10-for-10 from the free throw line including making several key shots from the charity stripe down the stretch. Martez Harris finished with 14 points and six boards.
 
The Gyrenes improve to 1-7 overall and move to 1-1 in Sun Conference play with the win. Thomas drops to 5-5 overall and to 0-1 in TSC action.
 
Despite Thomas taking 19 more shots, the Night Hawks made just two more baskets than AMU as the Gyrenes shot 50 percent from the floor in the game. The Gyrenes also made 8-of-18 from three compared to 3-of-21 by Thomas. AMU made 17-of-21 from the free throw line.
 
Ave Maria outrebounded Thomas 34-28.
 
Krimsky came out firing on all cylinders as the senior scored AMU's first nine points and 11 of the team's first 13 points to help the Gyrenes to a 13-10 advantage in the first half. A few minutes later, Eric Richardson nailed a three to extend the AMU lead to 11, 23-12, with 8:27 to play in the half.
 
Thomas ended the half on a 10-0 run to take a 34-31 lead on the Gyrenes into the break.
 
Martez Harris scored seven of the Gyrenes' first nine points in the second half followed by a three by Caelen Watts to cap a 12-2 run to open the second half and give AMU a 46-36 lead. Thomas wouldn't go away and chipped away at the AMU lead until they eventually took the lead, 55-53, with 5:49 to play. A few minutes later, Torres went on his own 7-1 run to retake the lead for the Gyrenes, 63-58.
 
Leading by three with under a minute to play, Krimsky made a basket and Torres made six straight free throws to put away the Night Hawks 71-60.
 
AMU has a quick turnaround as they host Florida National on Monday night. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. at Tom Golisano Field House.