AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria men's basketball team stunned the Southeastern University Fire on Thursday night, claiming an 83-74 victory over the hosts, who were receiving votes in the preseason NAIA national poll.
 
The Gyrenes led by three at halftime, and extended that lead as high as seven in the opening five minutes of the second half. A pair of three-pointers helped Southeastern to re-take the lead, 60-59, with under 12 minutes to play. This led to Ave Maria's biggest run of the night, a 16-5 stretch which covered just under five minutes of game time. The run was led by Tejai Allen, who scored three times in that span.
 
Southeastern got as close as three, 75-72, with 2:26 to play, but shots from Allen and Deonte' Dixon put Southeastern away.
 
Allen and Dixon were instrumental in the upset, combining for 53 of the 83 points. Allen posted a double-double, logging 27 points and ten rebounds. Dixon's 26 points were paced by a game-high four three-pointers. Malik Mayeaux was also in double figures for the Gyrenes, scoring 13 points with eight rebounds.
 
Ave Maria shot nearly 50 percent from the field, and held the Fire to just 36 percent. The Gyrenes also kept the Fire from obtaning easy points, allowing Southeastern to shoot just a single free throw in the second half.
 
Southeastern also had three players in double figures, led by sixth man Jeremy Oppenhiemer, who scored 16 points. Starters Deshaun Wilcox and Harry Hebert each had 15 points, while Josue Celestin pulled down ten rebounds in just 16 minutes of action.
 
Following the upset victory, AMU faces Thomas University on the road, in a game set for Saturday at 6:00 p.m. The next home game is Tuesday against Division I Binghamton.