AVE MARIA, Fla. — For the 23-24 Ave Maria Gyrenes, back-to-back games just means back-to-back monster nights as AMU puts up their sixth triple digit performance of the season and beat the Florida National Conquistadors 109-86. The win avenges a loss the Gyrenes suffered earlier in the season.
After a couple of lead swaps to start, the Gyrenes took firm possession of the game when they went on an 18-0 run early in the first half. Back-to-back layups started the run and gave the Gyrenes the lead and then four straight threes, two each from Jaylen White and Michael Klekas, brought the crowd to their feet at Donahue Academy Gym. AMU got one more jumper in before the Conquistadors finally made a basket to end their four-and-a-half-minute scoreless streak.
The Gyrenes kept the pressure up and just continued to grow their lead as the half continued, getting as high as 29 points. With about two minutes left to go in the first half, a Florida National assistant coach drew two technical fouls and was ejected out of the game. Jonathan Effertz went to the charity stripe for the Gyrenes and made all four free throws to put Ave Maria at 58.
The Gyrenes had two minutes to get to 60 points in a half, a feat they have pulled off three times already this season, most recently Monday night against New College of Florida. Effertz hit a three to push Ave Maria passed the mark and then Jack Watkins connected on two more free throws to give the Gyrenes a 63-33 lead at the break. 63 points is the most points scored in half since 2019 when they did so against Christendom.
The Gyrenes cruised through the second half knowing they had a 30-point lead on their side.
After netting four in the first half, Klekas hit two more three pointers in the final 20 minutes to tie his career-high for long shots in a game.
With just under five minutes left to play, White hit a layup to push the Gyrenes past 100 at 101, making it the sixth time Ave Maria has hit triple digits this season. It then became a race against the clock to see how many points AMU could put up and how high the leaderboard they would climb.
Watkins and Mitchell Lee each hit a three in the closing minutes and Noryen Lasley made two free throws to bring the final total to 109 for the Gyrenes. That ranks as the seventh most points in game in school history.
Five players hit double figures tonight with Klekas leading the bunch at 28 points, tied for the season high for any Gyrene. Watkins joined him in the 20-point club with 24, while Effertz, White and Nick Filchner round out the group with 19, 17 and 11 respectively.
Along with leading the team in scoring and hitting a career-high for threes in a game, Klekas also recorded his second double-double of the season, pulling down 10 rebounds.
"This is the most unselfish team I have coached in my career," said head coach Jamon Copeland. "When you have a really skilled team, which we do, that is also extremely unselfish, it manifests itself in offensive performances like we have had over the past two nights."
With 109 points, the Gyrenes bring their season average to 98.2 points per game, which is tied for the most in the entire country. The win brings the Gyrenes to 10-2 on the year.
Ave Maria will get a two week break for Christmas before hitting the court again right before the calendar flips over in the Seahawk New Year's Classic. The Gyrenes will take on two teams they have never seen before in the Brescia Bearcats (KY) and the Concordia Quebec Stingers in the end of the year tournament hosted by conference rival Keiser.
Ave Maria's next home game will be in 2024 when the Gyrenes open conference play Saturday, January 6, against the Southeastern Fire.
