LAKELAND, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team logged the team's signature win to date on Saturday night, as the Gyrenes knocked off the nation's No. 15 team. Ave Maria defeated Southeastern, 83-73, at The Furnace in Lakeland, marking the team's first ever win against a ranked conference opponent on the road. AMU used a dominant second half to split the season series with the Fire.

Southeastern started fast against the visiting Gyrenes, and the Fire led by as many as 16 points in the first half. The Fire led by at least ten points for the final nine minutes of the second half, until a late surge cut Southeastern's halftime lead to nine. In the final minute of the first half, Ave Maria scored five quick points to cut the SEU lead from 14 to nine. An and-one from Lucas Uzdavinis and a layup by Marcus Montalvo allowed AMU to go into the halftime break with momentum, despite a 46-37 deficit.

The Fire's three-point shooting was a focal point in the opening 20 minutes, as seven of the team's 13 three-point attempts connected. Ave Maria shot 32.4 percent from the field in the first half, and logged a 35.3 percent mark from long distance. Riley Minx was the leading scorer in the opening frame, scoring 12 points - three three-pointers, a two-pointer, and a free throw. Reggie Mesidor made three of his four three-point attempts, as well, and scored eleven points in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, Ave Maria took complete control of the contest. The Gyrenes needed just eight minutes to erase Southeastern's lead, and did not trail in the final nine minutes. The effort was just as strong on both ends of the court, as the Fire shot just 27.3 percent from the field and ten percent (1-of-10) from long distance. On the other end of the floor, Lucas Uzdavinis led the assault by making all seven of his field goal attempts, including three three-pointers, to lead a 56.7 percent shooting mark. 

Uzdavinis posted perhaps the best line of his AMU career, scoring 26 points on just eleven shots. The redshirt sophomore made ten of his eleven field goal attempts, including four three-pointers. Leo Behrend added 21 points and ten rebounds for his eleventh double-double of the season, while Montalvo pitched in with eleven. Jeremy Oppenheimer was one of two leading scorers for Southeastern, but the Gyrene defensive effort forced him to take 22 shots to score his 17 points. Mesidor added 17, but only scored six in the second half. 

Ave Maria enters The Sun Conference Tournament as the number four seed, and will host Warner University at the Tom Golisano Field House on Tuesday night. Warner and Ave Maria split their season series, with each team winning a nailbiter at home. With a win in the quarterfinals, the Gyrenes would head back to Lakeland for the semifinals, where the top-seeded Fire would await. Tipoff in Ave Maria is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.