THOMASVILLE, Ga.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team did not have an answer for one of The Sun Conference's top teams on Saturday evening, falling 86-61 to the Night Hawks of Thomas University on the road. The Gyrenes hung around for parts of Saturday's game, but a major run from Thomas in the second half ensured the Gyrenes would not be able to snap their losing streak.

Thomas took control of the game early on Saturday, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first four minutes and change. Ave Maria didn't go away, cutting the TU lead to three on several occasions in the first half. However, the Night Hawks' lead steadily grew throughout the first half, getting as large as 14 points before Ave Maria trimmed the lead down to 12 points, 42-30, entering the halftime break. 

The Gyrenes tried to make a game of it in the second half, getting Thomas' lead down to eight points early in the half and nine points with under eleven minutes to play. After the Gyrenes got within nine, the Night Hawks went on a 17-0 run over the span of three minutes, ballooning the lead to 26 points and erasing any doubt as to the outcome.

Ave Maria was hurt mainly in transition, as Thomas forced 23 Ave Maria turnovers, including 13 turnovers in the second half. Those turnovers turned into 30 points for the hosts, while the Gyrenes scored just ten points off nine turnovers. Thomas had a efficient game on the offensive end of the floor, making more than 50 percent of their field goal attempts. The Night Hawks also outscored the Gyrenes from long distance, 33-15.

Three Gyrenes finished the game in double figures, with both Miles Monchecourt and Chayse Culpepper scoring 12 points on five field goals and two free throws. Monchecourt was on the floor more than any other Gyrene, playing 26 minutes on Saturday. Klajd Kiri added ten points, and was Ave Maria's leading rebounder with seven despite playing just 19 minutes.

AMU's next two games will be in non-conference action, which will be the Gyrenes' last two games outside of Sun Conference play. The first of those games will see Ave Maria battle a nationally ranked opponent, the No. 20 Florida College Falcons. The Gyrenes will look for a signature win Tuesday night in Temple Terrace, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.