WALESKA, Ga.- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team ran their record to 4-0 Saturday evening, thanks to a 93-69 victory over the Eagles of Reinhardt University. The Gyrenes controlled the game from start to finish, taking the lead less than 90 seconds into the contest and not relinquishing it. Only three Ave Maria teams have had a longer winning streak to start their seasons -  the 2012-13, 2019-20 and 2023-24 Gyrenes all started their campaigns with eight consecutive victories.

After trailing 4-3 just over a minute into the game, the Gyrenes took full control of the game. Starting with two free throws from Jonathan Effertz, the Gyrenes went on a 29-8 run, turning a deficit into a 20-point lead, 32-12, in less than eight minutes. The Ave Maria lead would grow as large as 21 points, 36-15, with 9:31 to play in the half. The hosts did put together a flurry in the second part of the opening half, cutting AMU's lead down to nine points by the end of the half.

That momentum did not last through halftime, as Ave Maria re-established control with the first four points of the half and never again saw the lead dip into single digits. AMU would make 21 of their 32 shots in the final 20 minutes of the contest, including making 15 of 17 two point attempts. Ave Maria's largest lead of the game was 27 points, an 82-55 lead with 6:14 to play.

Jack Watkins led the Gyrenes with 15 points, making six of his eight field goal attempts and three of his five three-point tries. Watkins moved within striking distance of 1,000 points as a Gyrene, now sitting just 24 points away. Jonathan Effertz and Marlon Bennett both added 14 points, while Alex Sherwood added 12 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. The final of Ave Maria's five players in double figures was Bradley Michel, who finished with eleven points off the bench.

The Gyrenes will face their biggest test to date of the 2025-26 season on Sunday, taking on the Royals of Johnson University. Johnson got to the championship game of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament last season, and earned a berth to the NAIA Tournament. Johnson is receiving votes in the preseason edition of the NAIA Coaches' Poll. Tipoff of that contest, played on the Reinhardt University campus, is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.