AVE MARIA, Fla. - The Ave Maria University men's basketball team won their third consecutive game on Saturday evening, claiming a 72-57 victory over Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville. The Gyrenes pulled away from the host Eagles in the second half for their fifth straight win in the series. Since starting the season 2-3, the Gyrenes have won five of their last six games, including wins in all three of their December matchups.
The Gyrenes seemed to be in full control for much of the first half, leading for all but the first 22 seconds of the opening 20 minutes. That lead grew as large as 13 points following an Eric Klekas three-pointer with 2:10 remaining. Howeber, Trinity Baptist made three three-pointers and a layup in the final 121 seconds, and cut the Gyrene lead down to two points, 36-34, entering the halftime break.
Six Ave Maria players had between five and seven points in the first half, led by seven points from Lucas Uzdavinis. The Gyrenes shot 50 percent from the field and from behind the three-point arc, making 12 of 24 field goal attempts and five of ten three-point attempts. Two Eagles were in double figures by halftime, as Tyrece Freeman had eleven points and Parrish Hobdy had ten.
Ave Maria took back the momentum with the first six points of the second half, and never again saw their lead dip below five points. A key run for the Gyrenes came after one such instance, when TBC had cut the AMU lead to 44-39 with 15:33 to play. Over the next 2:23, the Gyrenes would go on a 10-0 run, powered by six points from Fernando Salsamendi and four from Uzdavinis. The lead would remain in double digits for the rest of the contest, securing Ave Maria's seventh win.
AMU's second half surge was powered by a stellar defensive effort. Trinity Baptist shot just 25.9 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes, connecting on seven of 27 attempts. For the game, Ave Maria shot 46 percent from the field, and knocked down nine three-pointers in the victory.
Salsamendi had a big game for the Gyrenes, scoring 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting. The senior set personal season highs in points (24) and shooting percentage (.667), while also making a season-best three three-pointers. Uzdavinis also made three three-pointers en route to a 13-point performance, while freshman Chayse Culpepper added ten points and six rebounds. AMU's rebounding effort was led by Eric Klekas, who had eight rebounds to go with eight points.
With a three-game winning streak in the books, the Gyrenes turn their attention to a pair of home games next week. The homestand begins on Tuesday, when Ave Maria welcomes Pensacola Christian College to town for a rematch of the teams' meeting in Pensacola on November 5, a 66-65 AMU win. The final game of 2020 is on Wednesday, as the Gyrenes host Florida National University. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tipoffs.
