AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team earned their first Sun Conference victory of the season on Saturday evening, winning a wildly entertaining 105-97 decision over the Warriors of Webber International University. The game featured both teams shooting better than 50 percent from the field, as well as each team making at least ten three-pointers.

Both teams got off to a blazing start, with the Gyrenes and Warriors combining for 61 points in the opening ten minutes. Ave Maria started the game with a 12-3 run after allowing a three-pointer on the opening possession, taking a six-point lead. Webber would respond by building their lead as big as eleven points in the first half, leading 38-27 with 5:09 to play in the frame. 

The Gyrenes would trim the Webber lead down to six points, 59-53, entering the halftime break. Webber's six-point lead was powered by a 66.7 percent mark from beyond the three-point arc, where the Warriors made eight of their 12 attempts.

The Gyrenes quickly grabbed the lead to begin the second half, scoring the first even points of the frame to take a 61-60 lead. The game remained close for much of the half, with the lead staying within five points for the first 11:30 of the half. Despite Webber closing the lead to four points with 2:53 to play, the Gyrenes were able to score the final four points of the contest to seal the victory. 

Ave Maria shot 56.3 percent from the field in the second half, led by a 5-for-5 performance from Romello Bates. Defensively, the Gyrenes held Webber to just 12-for-31 shooting and only two three-pointers.

Leo Behrend posted one of the biggest games in Gyrene history, scoring 40 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Behrend's 40-point game was the second most points scored by an AMU player in a single game, and the most ever in a conference game. He also tied a school record with 15 made field goals, a total that included two thunderous dunks. 

Not to be outdone, senior guard Romello Bates recorded the first double-double in school history, scoring 22 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out ten assists. Gianpaolo Riccio added 20 points, while Webber's Tommie Luke led the Warriors with 39 points.

After starting the season 1-1 in Sun Conference play, the Gyrenes will exit league play for two games in the greater Washington D.C. area. The trip north will start on Tuesday, when the Gyrenes battle Christendom University in Front Royal, Virginia. Tipoff against the Crusaders is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.