AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team won The Sun Conference's men's basketball Game of the Week on Thursday night, battling their way to a 74-73 victory over the Warner University Royals at the Tom Golisano Field House. The 13th ranked Gyrenes made a defensive stand in the final 30 seconds of the game to come away with the win over the 18th ranked Royals.

The first half saw the lead trade hands multiple times, with neither team being able to pull away. The Gyrenes' biggest lead was nine points, when a layup from Marcus Montalvo extended an AMU lead to 30-21 with 4:35 to play. Warner ended the first half on a 13-5 run, as a three-pointer at the buzzer pulled the Royals with one, 35-34, at the half.

Sixth man Fernando Salsamendi led Ave Maria's efforts in the first half, scoring 13 points on just seven shots. Leo Behrend nearly posted a double-double in the opening 20 minutes, grabbing nine rebounds to go with ten points. Salsamendi, Behrend, and Lucas Uzdavinis combined to score 29 of Ave Maria's 35 points in the first half. Maxwell Benoit and Joshua Rathell combined to score 28 of Warner's 34 in the first half. 

AMU and Warner continued to trade the lead in the second half, with Warner leading by as many as five points with 11:29 to play and the Gyrenes leading by five with 4:39 to play. The lead changed hands twice in the final 90 seconds, with Warner leading 73-72 with 63 seconds left following a dunk from Anterrius Washington. 

Ave Maria took the lead back with 39 seconds left, as Stevan Krusevac rebounded a Marcus Montalvo miss and scored to give AMU a 74-73 lead. The Royals missed four shots in the final 22 seconds, and could not convert on any of their three offensive rebounds. A final jumper went long as time expired, giving the Gyrenes their second consecutive win over the Royals on the Tom Golisano Field House floor.

The Gyrenes were outshot from three-point territory for the first time this season, as Warner made seven three-pointers to Ave Maria's five. Despite making three fewer field goals, AMU made up the difference by making 21 of their 27 free throw attempts. Ave Maria also dominated on the glass, holding a 33-20 advantage over the visiting Royals.

Behrend posted a double-double for the Gyrenes, leading the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Salsamendi added 15 points, and Jeffrey Steel scored ten. Warner's Benoit was the game's leading scorer with 29 points, while Rathell and Rod Boggan both scored 14 points in the losing effort.

The nationally ranked Gyrenes will look to win their 13th consecutive game against a conference opponent on Saturday afternoon against the Warriors of Webber International University. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. following the women's game between the two schools.