PENSACOLA, Fla. --- Tied at the end of regulation, the Ave Maria men's basketball team outscored Pensacola Christian College 18-4 in overtime en route to a 97-83 win on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Ave Maria moves to 2-0 on the season.
 
Leo Behrend scored 30 points and had 13 rebounds in the win. Romello Bates added 25 points, seven assists, and six boards. Gianpaolo Riccio also finished in double-figures for the Gyrenes with 15 points.
 
After shooting nearly 42 percent for the game, the Gyrenes shot 62.5 percent in overtime to pull away from PCC. AMU was 7-of-9 from the free throw line in overtime.
 
It took the Gyrenes a few minutes to get going early in the first half which allowed Pensacola to jump out to a 10-3 lead. AMU chipped away at the deficit and took a 24-23 advantage with 9:12 to play in the half on a Bates jumper. A few minutes later a 15-3 run by AMU gave the Gyrenes a 40-28 lead. AMU led by 10, 46-36, at the half.
 
Ave Maria continued to lead for most of the second half but saw their lead fade until PCC took a 74-73 lead with 3:31 to play in regulation. Down three with 1:24 to play, Stevan Krusevac made a jumper and then made a free throw to tie the game at 79. Unable to convert on their last possession of the game, AMU made a stop in the final seconds to send the game to overtime.
 
The Gyrenes scored the first seven points of overtime and quickly extended their advantage to 15 in the extra frame to run away with an OT win.