BABSON PARK, Fla. — The Ave Maria Men's Basketball team opened conference play with the most dominant half the Gyrenes have played this season, outscoring Webber 51-27. AMU cruised from there as they won 89-76.
The Gyrenes began to pull away from Warriors abut four minutes into the game. Nick Filchner hit the first three of the night from either team to put Ave Maria up 9-6. That bucket was the start of a 28-2 run over eight and half minutes that put the Gyrenes up 34-8. Ave Maria hit three triples during the run and ended the run with a dunk from Jack Watkins. Defensively, Ave Maria forced seven turnovers from the Warriors, four of them off steals.
The teams evened out in the final eight minutes of the half with Ave Maria keeping their huge lead on Webber. Jonathan Effertz hit a three to put the Gyrenes up 51-27, a lead they would take into the break.
It is the third half this season the Gyrenes have scored 50 point or more. It is also the best defensive half of the season, with 27 points being a season low for points allowed. The last half the Gyrenes allowed less points was 26 to Southeastern in the first half of the 2024 Sun Conference Quarterfinals.
Webber outscored the Gyrenes in the second half, but the 24-point lead was too much to overcome. Ave Maria hit four threes in the second half and made sure they were always in front of the Warriors. The closest Webber got was 13 points, which they got off their final free throw.
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Individually, Watkins led the team in points with 15. It is the fourth game in a row Watkins has led or tied for the lead in points. Three more Gyrenes were in double figures with Jaylen White hitting 14, Filchner hitting 12 and Michael Klekas hitting 10. Noryen Lasley led the team with seven rebounds.
As a team, Ave Maria hit 10 three pointers, the fifth this year they have hit double digits.
Ave Maria is home for their next two games as they continue the early conference season of their schedule. The Gyrenes are back on the court Wednesday, November 20, against the newest member of the Sun Conference, the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans. The Gyrenes played the Mighty Banyans once last season, winning 117-76. It was the second most points Ave Maria had scored in the program history, and most since 2012. Tipoff is set for 7:30 and the game will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
