AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team won their third consecutive game on Thursday night, cruising past the Eagles of the University of Fort Lauderdale, 83-66, at Donahue Gym. In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, the Gyrenes led by as many as 32 points to win their ninth game of season, moving to 9-2 on the campaign.

The Gyrenes started slowly in their first home game in nearly a month, taking more than three minutes to get on the board and trailing 4-0. From there, though, Ave Maria took complete control of the contest, going on a 16-2 run to run their lead to ten points. AMU did not surrender the lead for the remainder of the first half, taking a 42-34 lead into the halftime break. 

Ave Maria shot the ball extremely well in the opening 20 minutes on Thursday, shooting 53.3 percent from the field. Five different Gyrenes made a three-pointer in the first half, powering the Gyrenes to a 50 percent mark from long distance. Lucas Uzdavinis and Matt Gillis combined to knock down five three-pointers in the opening frame, and combined for 19 points to lead the way for AMU.

AMU's lead continued to grow in the opening minutes of the second half. In the first seven minutes and change of the second half, the Gyrenes went on a 24-7 run to extend their lead to 25 points, 66-41. The lead eventually to grew to its apex of 32 points with 5:16 left, thanks to a putback from Joseph Hahnenberg. Fort Lauderdale concluded the game on a 17-2 run with the end of AMU's bench in the game, but the lead was far too great for UFTL to threaten the Gyrenes.

The three-point shooting of the Gyrenes was a big reason AMU earned their ninth win, as Ave Maria made a season-high 13 three-pointers on their home floor. The Gyrenes shot 47.7 percent from the floor and 44.8 percent from long distance, and held Fort Lauderdale to a 30.9 percent mark from the field and makes on just three of their 15 three-point attempts. AMU also shared the ball well, logging 18 assists on 31 made field goals.

Matt Gillis led Ave Maria's offensive efforts in the win, scoring 17 points for the Gyrenes. Daryl Lewis and Lucas Uzdavinis both added a dozen points, while Eric Klekas and Jose Sanchez just missed double figures at nine points. Klajd Kiri pulled down eleven rebounds to lead the Gyrenes on the glass. 

Finals week at Ave Maria University looms for the Gyrenes, who will not take the floor for another 12 days. AMU's first game after finals week comes on December 14, when the Gyrenes take the floor for an exhibition game against NCAA Division II Nova Southeastern University. The next countable game comes the next day, which will see the Gyrenes welcome Trinity Baptist College to Donahue Gym.