MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team pulled away in the second half for their third consecutive conference win on Thursday night, as the Gyrenes completed a season sweep of Florida Memorial University, 91-73, at the FMU Wellness Center. Ave Maria has now won six consecutive games against the Lions, including three consecutive two-game sweeps.
The first half was marked by a series of runs, which ended with the Gyrenes holding a 39-32 at the end of 20 minutes of play. Ave Maria started fast, taking a 9-2 lead on two three-pointers and an and-one. Florida Memorial responded with a 16-4 run of their own, taking an 18-13 lead with 11:13 remaining in the half. The final five minutes of the half were dominated by the Gyrenes, who scored 12 unanswered points to take an eight-point lead, which was trimmed to seven just before the half.
Leo Behrend was the driving force behind Ave Maria's offensive effort, as the senior scored 16 points on eight shots in the game's first 20 minutes. Four players accounted for all 39 AMU points, with nine from Lucas Uzdavinis and seven each from Greenan Sullivan and Marcus Montalvo. Jordan Martin and Jordan Collins were the leaders for the Lions in the first half with eight points a piece.
Ave Maria led for the entirety of the second half, but saw their lead shrink to as little as two points. The Gyrenes finished the contest strong, outscoring Florida Memorial by 15 points in the final ten minutes. AMU held a 57-54 lead with 10:05 on the clock, and proceeded to go on a 14-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to put the Lions away. Ave Maria led by as many as 20 points during this final surge, and never led by less than ten in the final seven minutes.
Behrend had another huge day for the Gyrenes, scoring a season-high 37 points on 17 shots. The honorable mention All-American posted the second best total of his AMU career, and the most in a road game. Behrend also added eight rebounds. Sullivan and Montalvo were also in double figures with eleven points each. Quvondo Johnson was the leading scorer for Florida Memorial with 19 points. Johnson also logged a double-double with eleven rebounds.
As a team, the Gyrenes shot 53.2 percent from the field, which included a 62.5 percent mark in the second half. AMU knocked down nine three-pointers, and were able to overcome a 44-29 disadvantage in rebounding. Florida Memorial's 26.1 percent tally from three-point range marked the 13th time this season where an Ave Maria opponent has shot under 30 percent from long distance - conversely, the Gyrenes have been under 30 percent just three times.
AMU returns to the floor on Saturday, and will look to avenge a loss from earlier this month against St. Thomas University. The Gyrenes and Bobcats are scheduled for a 4 p.m. tipoff in Miami Gardens.
