AVE MARIA, Fla. - The Ave Maria University men's basketball team pulled out their fifth conference win of the 2020-21 season, sneaking past the Southeastern University Fire, 73-72, at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy gymnasium on Saturday evening. The game, the first meeting of two between the two schools, featured the last two Sun Conference Tournament champions, and came down to the final possession of the night.

Ave Maria raced out to a 7-0 lead in the first 3:11 of the contest, and surrendered the lead just twice in the opening 20 minutes. The Gyrened led by seven points at three points during the first half, which was the largest margin before the half. Southeastern took their first lead at 18-17, and also held a 32-31 lead with 1:17 to play in the half. Ave Maria took the lead on a jumper from Jose Sanchez with 36 seconds left, and took a 33-32 lead into the halftime break.

AMU was at their best in the paint in the first half, making 12 of their 18 attempts from inside the arc. Chayse Culpepper led that effort with eight points on just five shots, while Jose Sanchez came off the bench to score seven points in the opening 20 minutes. Southeastern's offense ran through Reggie Mesidor, who had nearly half of his team's points (14). The Gyrenes were more efficient from the field, shooting 45.2 percent from the field to the Seahawks' 38.7 percent.

In the second half, the Gyrenes opened up a 14-point lead with 11:34 remaining, only to watch Southeastern storm back. The Fire took the lead with 1:04 on the clock, following a three-pointer from Riley Matticks. On the next trip down the floor, Fernando Salsamendi knocked down a jumper with 43 seconds to go, swinging the lead back to AMU. Southeastern would have two chances to retake the lead in the final 30 seconds, but missed a layup on the first trip and turned the ball over on the second. A third chance, a three-quarter court heave following a missed free throw, fell short to ensure AMU's one-point win.
 
Culpepper came up big for the Gyrenes, scoring 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Eric Klekas added 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists, and grabbed the steal on Southeastern's final full possession that essentially sealed the win. Sanchez was also in double figures for Ave Maria, putting ten points on the board. Mesidor powered the Fire with 25 points, which included five three-pointers. Karl Jeanty (15), Al Talent-Fitzgerald (13), and Matticks (10) were all in double figures in the losing effort.

The Gyrenes are right back on the court on Monday night, as Ave Maria welcomes the Keiser University Seahawks to town for the second time this season. AMU defeated the Seahawks, 80-71, on November 14 in the first conference game of the 2020-21 season, snapping a 22-game losing streak to Keiser. Tipoff between the Seahawks and the Gyrenes, who currently sit second and third in The Sun Conference respectively, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.