THOMASVILLE, Ga.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team stayed unbeaten on Thursday night, following an 83-78 victory over the Night Hawks of Thomas University. The Gyrenes, who are now one of eight undefeated teams remaining in NAIA Division II, led by as many as 18 points before holding off the charging Night Hawks.

Neither team led by more than four points in the first 14 minutes of the contest, before Ave Maria came up with the first big run of the night. The Gyrenes ripped off a 19-2 run that turned a 23-22 game into a 42-24 lead for AMU. During the second half of the opening 20 minutes, Ave Maria did not allow a field goal for nearly seven and a half minutes. Thomas did score the final seven points of the half to close the AMU lead to 43-32 at halftime.

Ave Maria shot the ball very well in the first half, making more than 52 percent of their field goal attempts and five of their eleven threes. Fernando Salsamendi led the Gyrenes with 16 points off the bench, while Marcus Montalvo scored eleven points on just three shots. Thomas' leading scorer also came off the bench, as Joshua Scott posted 13 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Thomas closed the gap in the first ten minutes of the second half, eventually tying the game at 53 with 10:44 to play. The game would be tied five more times over the next six minutes of action, before a critical series for the Gyrenes. With the score even at 65 with 4:34 on the clock, Salsamendi hit back-to-back three pointers to give AMU the lead for good. 

The Night Hawks cut the Ave Maria lead down to one on two occasions in the final three minutes, but the Gyrenes were able to get to the foul line and make two free throws both times. Thomas got to within two with 14 seconds left, but six consecutive AMU free throws - two from Montalvo and four from Leo Behrend - put the game away.

Four Gyrenes were in double figures in the victory, led by 24 points from Salsamendi. Montalvo and Behrend each had 15 points, and Greenan Sullivan chipped in with 14. AMU came up big at the foul line in the win, making 20 of their 21 free throw attempts. 40 of Thomas' 78 points came from two players, as Scott led the way with 23 points and Nebojsa Mickic logged 17 points.

Saturday's game will be a rematch of the 2019 Sun Conference Tournament championship game, as the Gyrenes head to Brunswick for a meeting with Coastal Georgia. The Mariners are currently 0-2 in conference play following losses to Thomas and Southeastern. Tipoff in Brunswick is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., as the back half of a men's and women's doubleheader.