AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team could not recover from an early barrage of three-pointers from the St. Thomas Bobcats, and fell in the home finale, 90-61, Thursday night at the Tom Golisano Field House. St. Thomas hit nine threes in the opening period to put the Gyrenes in an insurmountable hole.
 
St. Thomas' three-point shooting in the first half was set up by the post play of 6-11 center Raheem Bowman, who scored 10 points in the opening 20 minutes. The Bobcats went 9-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first half, with five different players knocking down shots from long range. St. Thomas shot 18-of-30 from the field in the first half, and turned 11 turnovers from the Gyrenes into 16 points. Ave Maria was able to trim St. Thomas' lead at the half, going on a 9-4 run in the final four minutes of the frame to account for a 48-27 margin at halftime.
 
Ave Maria held St. Thomas' long-range shooting in check during the second half, and played a relatively even period where the Bobcats outscored AMU 42-34. The Gyrenes finished the game with seven made three-pointers of their own, led by three triples from Deonte Dixon.
 
Dixon finished the game with 17 points, a team-best. The junior currently sits just eight points from the Ave Maria single-season scoring record. Tejai Allen added 12 points in the losing effort, and Exor Torres chipped in with 11.
 
Armand Shoon led all scorers with 18 pointers, including a pair of three-pointers. Bowman added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and three other Bobcats were in double figures.
 
The Gyrenes finish the regular season with two games on the road, beginning on Saturday with a contest against Keiser University in West Palm Beach. The season concludes next Thursday against Webber International University.