AVE MARIA, Fla. — There was only one lead change all game Wednesday night between the #24 Ave Maria Gyrenes and the #15 Keiser Seahawks. With seven and half minutes left in the game, Michael Klekas hit a jumper in the paint to put Ave Maria on top for the first time in the game. Ave Maria held onto that lead for dear life in the last seven minutes to get their third ranked win of the season, beating the Seahawks 94-90.
Keiser came into the game as the number one defense in the country while Ave Maria was the number one offense in the country, averaging 96.8 points per game. Unfortunately for the Gyrenes, defense won the first half with Keiser taking an early lead never letting go. In the opening frame, the Seahawks held Ave Maria to just 36 points while scoring 40 themselves. The Seahawks got up by 11 points at one point in the first half, but Ave Maria kept wearing away at the Seahawks and closed the half with a 10-5 run to bring the deficit back to four.
Ave Maria only hit four threes in the first half, hitting just 23.5% of their shots from behind the arc.
The Seahawks tried to keep the Gyrenes at bay in the second half and even got back up by 10 points, but they never could put the Gyrenes away.
Ave Maria got within one possession of the Seahawks multiple times in the second half before finally taking their first lead of the game with the jumper from Klekas. After taking the one-point lead, two free throws extended the lead to three and the Gyrenes did not look back.
The Gyrenes kept applying steady pressure in the latter stages of the second half and eventually iced the game in the final minutes. When the final buzzer sounded the Gyrenes walked off the court with another impressive win.
AMU hit seven threes in the second half, which was a big improvement from the first half and led to the them taking control of the game.
"All week [long] we [said] we got to somehow, some way, fight like crazy and neutralize them on the glass," said head coach Jamon Copeland. "If we can do that, we'll be all right. First half, they beat us up. And I think our guys, how hard they compete, and just the relentless pressure they give, I think we kind of worn them down a bit in the second half. They got a little bit tired, so they are not crashing quite as hard, and then now their size and physicality we can neutralize a little bit. And we were able to do that, and I think that is why the second half went our way."
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 5-1 in conference play and 14-4 overall. The Gyrenes are now tied for first place in the Sun Conference with the Seahawks and currently hold the tiebreaker with the win. Wednesday night was also the third ranked win for the Gyrenes, joining their victories over #9 Cumberlands and #10 Bethel. Ave Maria is in a four way tie with The Master's (Calif.), Grace (Ind.) and Florida Memorial for the second most ranked wins this season.
The win was also in front of a packed crowd at the Tom Golisano Field House, that definitely played a part in the Gyrenes' win.
"It was unbelievable. They are no question the best fans in the Sun Conference. I'd put them up with anybody in the NAIA when they show up. They are loud, they are passionate, they love this school, they love the university, and it's blast. You know, our guys love it. I think the big part too is that they are such a community. Everybody's got relationships with each other," said Copeland.
After the game, he stopped by the student section and a celebration spilled out on the floor. "So, I just wanted to, after the game, go thank them, and then my emotions got the best of me and I started a mosh pit," said Copeland laughing.
Klekas led the team in scoring with 24 points, a season-high for him. Also in double figures was Nick Filchner at 18, Jaylen White at 14 and Jack Watkins at 12.
The Gyrenes are home for their next game Saturday afternoon against the St. Thomas Bobcats. The Bobcats fell Wednesday night to Florida Memorial 61-57 to drop to 2-4 in conference play and 6-9 overall. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
