LAKELAND, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team dropped a 58-54 decision at Southeastern on Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes trailed by six at the break and rallied to within one in the second half before a late three by the Fire put the game away.
 
The Blue and Green return to the court on Thursday when they welcome Northwood University to Tom Golisano Field House. Prior to the game, Ave Maria will honor its two women's basketball senior and its two men's basketball seniors.
 
Wendell Powell led AMU with 12 points and seven rebounds. Jelani Bonner also scored in double-figures with 11 points and five rebounds.
 
The Gyrenes shot 45.2 percent from the field and made 5-of-10 from behind the arc. Southeastern shot the ball at the 46.7 percent clip and made nine from three.
 
AMU struggled to get things going and were held scoreless for the opening six minutes before a Powell bucket made the score 7-2 with 13:58 remaining in the first half. A few minutes later, a basket by Bonner and a three by Julian Adams gave the Gyrenes their first lead of the game, 12-9.
 
The teams went back-and-forth over the next few minutes but a 14-2 run by the Fire gave Southeastern a 29-23 advantage at the half.
 
Southeastern extended its lead to double-digits early in the second half and still led by 10, 45-35, with 11 minutes to play. The Blue and Green were able to chip away at the Southeastern lead and closed to within one, 55-54, on a Nate Krimsky layup with 1:03 remaining. But a three by Southeastern on the next possession put the game out of reach for the Gyrenes.