TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team moved to 4-0 for the second season in a row on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a 82-65 victory over the Falcons of Florida College. The Gyrenes moved their record all-time against the Falcons to 13-4, which includes victories in three of the last four meetings.

Ave Maria used a big run in the first half to break the game open, allowing the Gyrenes to cruise to their fourth consecutive road victory. With the game tied at ten just over five minutes into the contest, the Gyrenes went on a 21-6 run to open up a 15-point lead. Following this run, the Gyrenes' lead would not dip below ten points for the remainder of the contest, and the AMU lead stood at eleven points, 42-31, at halftime.

AMU would continue to outscore the Falcons in the second half, again widening the lead to as many as 21 points. Florida College twice cut the Ave Maria lead to eleven points, doing so at the 19:43 and 15:35 marks. However, the Gyrenes responded to each instance by scoring five unanswered points to push the lead back up to 16.

The Gyrenes, who ranked second in the nation in three-pointers made per game entering the day, continued to shoot the ball well. AMU made 16 of their 37 shots from beyond the three-point arc, and saw six different Gyrenes make at least one shot from long distance. Ave Maria also entered the game in the top five in three-point defense, and held the Falcons to just two made threes on 22 attempts. 

The 48-6 advantage in three-pointers proved to be the difference in the game, as the teams posted similar total shooting percentages - 41.8 percent for AMU and 38.5 percent for Florida College. The Gyrenes narrowly won the rebounding battle, 42-39, and the teams both committed 12 turnovers.

Leo Behrend, who hit a buzzer beater to beat the Falcons last season, continued to terrorize Florida College with 28 points and ten rebounds. Marcus Montalvo and Jeffrey Steel both knocked down three three-pointers en route to 15-point performances, while freshman Chosen Levarity led the Gyrenes off the bench with eight points. Stefan Nakic-Vojnovic posted a double-double to lead the Falcons, logging 16 points and ten rebounds.

Action in The Sun Conference begins next Saturday, when the Gyrenes host the Lions of Florida Memorial University at the Tom Golisano Field House. The women's and men's doubleheader will start at 2:00 p.m.