MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team controlled the action from the opening tip on Saturday evening, and avenged one of their three conference losses with an impressive 83-65 victory over the previously 15-4 St. Thomas University Bobcats at the Fernandez Family Center. Ave Maria led for more than 39 minutes, and won their 10th conference game of the season to move into a tie for second place in The Sun Conference.
Ave Maria came out of the gates hot in the first half, scoring on each of their first five possessions. A three-pointer from Leo Behrend 32 seconds into the contest gave the Gyrenes a lead they would never relinquish. AMU led by as many as 17 points in the first half, and never trailed by fewer than eight for the final 12 minutes of the half. The Gyrenes entered halftime with a nine-point lead, 41-32.
Fernando Salsamendi was the key of Ave Maria's offense in the first half, as the junior scored 15 points on just eight shots. Leo Behrend added 12 points on seven shots in the opening 20 minutes. On the other end of the floor, the Gyrenes allowed just four offensive rebounds, and forced the Bobcats' top two scorers to just 16 points on 17 shots.
AMU continued to control the pace in the second half, and never allowed the Bobcats to get any closer than six points. The Gyrenes finished the game strong as well, putting the Bobcats by allowing just one field goal in the final five minutes of the contest. After St. Thomas had cut the lead to seven, an and-one from Salsamendi and three free throws from Behrend pushed the Gyrene lead back to 13 just 90 seconds later. From there, the lead never shrank to less than 12 points.
As a team, the Gyrenes shot 54 percent from the field, and held the Bobcats to a 20.4 percent mark from three-point territory. Ave Maria won the rebounding battle 35-28, and held St. Thomas' Ahmad Gilbert and Justin Brown to 30 points on 35 shots. The AMU defensive effort, which leads the nation in opposing three-point percentage, held Brown and Gilbert to a 20 percent mark from long distance.
Behrend and Salsamendi combined for 61 points - 31 from Behrend and 30 from Salsamendi. Behrend, Salsamendi, Marcus Montalvo, and Greenan Sullivan combined for 80 of AMU's 83 points, and did so on just 40 shots. Jovan Grujicic led the Gyrenes with eight rebounds and five assists, while Behrend pulled down six rebounds of his own.
The Gyrenes, who are now 10-3 in conference play, return to the Tom Golisano Field House on Thursday for a meeting with the Webber International University Warriors. The Gyrenes have won three consecutive games against Warriors, with both of the last two decided by three points. AMU and Webber are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the women's game between the two schools.
