AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball started their home schedule with authority on Thursday night, smothering the Warriors of Webber International University in a 71-49 win at Donahue Gym in front of a capacity crowd seeing the AMU men for the first time this season. The Gyrenes held an opponent under 50 points for the first time since January 11, 2020, when AMU rolled to a 67-48 victory over Johnson & Wales at home.
Ave Maria never trailed on Thursday night, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first 90 seconds on a three-pointer from Eric Klekas and a layup from Daryl Lewis. That early lead would continue to grow throughout the opening 20 minutes, as the Gyrenes held the Warriors to just 17 points in the first half. AMU ended the half on a 6-1 run to take their biggest lead of the half, 35-17.
The Ave Maria defense was at the forefront in the first half, holding the Warriors to 26.9 percent from the field (7-26), and 9.1 percent from three-point territory (1-11). Offensively, AMU's best attack came down low, as the Gyrenes made 10 of their 15 two-point attempts in the opening 20 minutes. In total, Ave Maria shot 51.9 percent from the field, with Eric Klekas and Chayse Culpepper combining for 22 of AMU's 35.
In the second half, the Gyrenes kept their stranglehold on the game, with the lead never creeping below 13 points. Ave Maria outscored the Warriors in the second half, 36-32, to stretch the lead throughout the frame. The Gyrenes led by as many as 28 points before Webber scored the final six points of the game, which came after both teams had emptied their benches.
Although the Warriors shot better in the second half, Ave Maria's defensive effort kept the Warriors to totals of 32.2 percent from the field and 13.6 percent from three-point territory. The Gyrenes turned the Warriors over 17 times, logging 12 steals in the process. Conversely, AMU knocked down nine three-pointers to just three for Webber, and shot 48.3 percent from the field in the home opener.
Eric Klekas was Ave Maria's leading scorer in the win, knocking down five three-pointers en route to 20 point effort. Daryl Lewis had an efficient performance in his first game at home, making seven of his ten shots and scoring 14 points with seven assists and five rebounds. Matt Gillis added 13 points, and Chayse Culpepper chipped in with 12. Culpepper, Klajd Kiri, and Mason Osborne all had seven rebounds to lead Ave Maria on the glass.
AMU will stay in Sun Conference play this Saturday, heading to Lakeland for a meeting with the Fire of Southeastern University. The Fire enter the contest 3-0, and will be playing their Sun Conference opener. The game is the nightcap of a women's and men's doubleheader, and is scheduled to tip at 4:00 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the AMU-SEU women's game.
