MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team continued to dominate the series against the Florida Memorial University Lions, defeating the Lions 98-87 at the FMU Wellness Center on Thursday night. The win was AMU's ninth straight against Florida Memorial, dating back to the 2017-18 season, and marked AMU's sixth win in their last seven games. With the victory, the Gyrenes clinched a spot in The Sun Conference Tournament for the third year in a row.

Florida Memorial led for much of the first half, including an eight-point lead of 16-8 that would prove to be their biggest of the game. However, the Gyrenes closed the half with a flurry, going on a 15-2 run that helped AMU build a lead of 43-40 entering the halftime break. AMU shared the ball well in the opening 20 minutes, with 12 assists credited on 15 field goals.

Both offenses picked up in the second half, with more than 100 points scored between the teams. Florida Memorial started the half well, and led by seven points, 60-53, with 12:38 remaining on the clock. What followed was a game-changing run for AMU, who scored 19 of the next 20 points to turn that seven-point deficit into an eleven-point lead just four minutes later. 

FMU would rally one last time, cutting the AMU lead to one with 4:50 left, but a 7-0 run pushed the AMU lead back to eight. FMU would never again get within one possession, as late free throws iced the game for Ave Maria.

Chayse Culpepper recorded the first double-double of his college career with 15 points and eleven assists. Culpepper's is the first player to have eleven assists in a Sun Conference game since the 2018-19 season, and just the second player in AMU history to do so - Romello Bates had eleven assists in a Sun Conference Tournament game during AMU's league championship season. The freshman also added five steals to his total, and only turned the ball over once.

AMU's leading scorer was Fernando Salsamendi, who bolstered his potential TSC Player of the Year candidacy with his conference best eleventh double-double of the season, consisting of 25 points and eleven rebounds. Eric Klekas made seven of his eleven shots to finish with 20 points, while Lucas Uzdavinis pitched in with eleven. Off the bench, Jose Sanchez added 16 points and eight rebounds. Mubashar Ali led the way for Florida Memorial with 24 points and 12 rebounds, marking his tenth double-double.

The Gyrenes, who remain in second place in The Sun Conference, face a crucial rubber match back in Miami Gardens on Saturday afternoon. Ave Maria will face the Bobcats of St. Thomas University for the third time this season, with each team winning at home. STU won 71-65 in Dade County on January 2, while the Gyrenes returned the favor, 79-67, at Donahue Academy on January 26. The final meeting between second place Ave Maria and fifth place St. Thomas is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., or 30 minutes following the women's contest.