AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team snapped a nine-game losing streak to Warner University, and upended the No. 22 team in the nation on Saturday afternoon in a 91-82 victory over the Royals. Ave Maria's victory over a nationally ranked team came behind a career-defining performance from senior Malik Hall, who was playing in his first conference game in nearly three seasons. Hall knocked down eight three-pointers and scored 28 points to power Ave Maria.

Ave Maria started fast against the nationally ranked Royals, taking an early 13-7 lead behind seven points from Leo Behrend, which included a crowd-igniting dunk. The Royals quickly responded with six straight points to tie the game, but AMU's hot shooting continued. A 12-4 run keyed by three-pointers from Hall pushed the Gyrene lead to eight points, 25-17. 

The Gyrenes held onto the lead for the remainder of the first half, leading by as many as ten and as few as four. AMU took a 42-37 lead into the halftime break after a free throw from Greenan Sullivan with 23 seconds remaining extended the Gyrene lead from its low point of four.

A disparity in three-point shooting was the story in the first half, as the Gyrenes outscored the Royals 24-0 from beyond the three-point line. Ave Maria made eight of their 16 attempts, while the Royals missed all eight of theirs. 

Ave's long distance barrage was keyed by Hall, a senior that had played only four minutes on the season entering the game. Hall made four of his six tries from deep to account for 12 points, while Warner's leading scorer was forward Trae Graham, who had 15.

AMU continued their red-hot shooting in the second half, hitting another six three-pointers and shooting 59.3 percent from the field. Ave Maria never trailed in the second half, and led by as many as 18 points. Warner was able to cut the Gyrene lead to three points, 48-45, with 16:17 to play.

 A key run for the Gyrenes came from the 14:47 mark to the 8:38 mark, when Ave Maria went on a 23-9 run to stretch their lead to 18. The Royals were able to rally within five points with less than three minutes to play, but could come no closer.

Led by Hall's 28-point effort, five Gyrenes reached double figures in the win. Behrend added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Gianpaolo Riccio hit three of his five three-pointers to account for 15. Caelen Watts (14) and Nemanja Brankov (10) were also in double figures. Trae Graham was the dominant scorer for the No. 22 Royals, scoring 28 points on 14 shots. 

With a 7-4 conference record, the Gyrenes sit alone in third place in The Sun Conference with seven games to go. Ave Maria's next game comes on Thursday, when the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University come to town. Tipoff against the Wildcats is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.