AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team (12-17, 4-11 TSC) hit the road for first round (play-in game) TSC tournament action against Webber International University. Tipoff is slated for Tuesday at 5:30PM.
GYRENES RECAP The Blue and Green ae coming off a 0-2 week in which they were defeated by both Northwood & Warner. The Ave Maria men's basketball team fell to the visiting Northwood University Seahawks, 61-44, at Tom Golisano Field House on Thursday night. Prior to the game, Ave Maria honored seniors Jelani Bonner and Wendell Powell. Bonner led the Gyrenes with 13 points and three rebounds. Exor Torres finished with eight points while Powell added seven points. The Gyrenes shot 33.3 percent from the field compared to 48 percent by the Seahawks. The Blue and Green made 5-of-16 from behind the arc. AMU kept Northwood in check in the first half and held a 14-9 lead with 8:34 remaining in the first half after a jumper by Bonner. Northwood finished the half on a 14-4 run to put the Gyrenes in a 23-18 hole at the break. Northwood opened the second half on a 20-5 run to extend their lead to 43-23. The Gyrenes were unable to close their deficit to single-digits down the stretch, eventually falling 61-44.
Against Warner University, the men's basketball team concluded its 2014-15 regular season on Saturday afternoon, falling 70-57. Johnny Minervino led Ave Maria with 13 points. Brandon Dean added nine points and six rebounds. Noah Phillips tallied six points and seven boards on the afternoon. The Gyrenes shot 48.8 percent from the field and made 10-of-20 from behind the arc. Warner made 45.7 percent of its attempts from the floor and connected on 12-of-22 from three. Warner held a 16-7 edge from the free throw line and committed only eight turnovers compared to 17 by the Gyrenes. Warner used the three ball to jump out to an early lead against the Blue and Green, making eight first half threes to jump out to a 38-25 halftime lead. The Gyrenes and Royals each scored 32 points in the second half.
GYRENE CATEGORY LEADERS Points – Jelani Bonner, 12.96 PPG
Rebounds – Jelani Bonner, 8.30 RPG
Assists – Jelani Bonner, 44 Assists
Steals – Exor Torres, 39 Steals
Blocks – Nate Krimsky, 12 Blocks
SCOUTING WEBBER INTERNATIONAL The Warriors of Webber International University enter Tuesday's game with a 12-18 overall record and a 9-9 conference record. In their last outing the Warriors defeated Saint Thomas University 80-77. In conference play Webber is averaging just over 73 point a game. Look for #32 Dewaine Lyals to be the impact player for the Warriors. He comes into the game averaging 12.30 points per game, 7.13 rebounds per game, and 2 blocks per game. In the two regular season matchups the warriors defeated the Gyrenes both times by scores of 56-43 and 50-42.
AMU HIGHLIGHTS AND NAIA DIVISION II NATIONAL RANKINGS (AS OF 2/9) TEAM RANKINGS- Ranks Number 1 in Division II in Total Rebound Defense (26.138)
- Ranks Number 2 in Division II in Scoring Defense per Game (57.828)
- Ranks Number 11 in Division II in Field Goal Pct Defense (0.407)
- Ranks Number 26 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.331)
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS- Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 23 in Division II in Defensive Rebounds per Game (6.000)
- Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 26 in Division II in Total Rebounds per Game (8.296)
- Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 31 in Division II in Total Rebounds (224)
- Jelani Bonner Ranks Number 49 in Division II in Field Goal Pct (0.514)
