TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. — The Ave Maria Men's Basketball team kept their winning streak to start the season alive Tuesday evening with a 108-85 win over the Florida College Falcons. It is the first time this season the Gyrenes have scored more than 100 points after getting close a couple of times earlier in the year.

Jonathan Effertz hit a layup on the Gyrenes' first possession and never looked back leading for the final 39 minutes of the game. Florida College worked one tie at 13-all a few minutes into the game, but then the Gyrenes ripped off an 18-0 run to really build a big separation between then and the Falcons. Ave Maria went 7-for-9 from the floor during the run and was a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Michael Klekas led the team with six of the 18 points, hitting two three-pointers. On the other end of the floor, Florida College went 0-for-4 from the field and turned the ball over three times.

Eighteen points was as big as the lead got in the first half, but Florida College never found themselves closer than two possessions away from the Gyrenes.

Ave Maria took a 53-40 lead into the break, putting them on pace to break the century mark. Klekas led the team in scoring after 20 minutes with 12 points. Effertz had also hit double figures in the first half with 10.

Fifty-three points in a frame was the highest scoring half of the season for the Gyrenes, until the second half started. In the final 20 minutes, Ave Maria dropped 55 points on the Falcons. There wasn't a big run in the second half like there was in the first, but just constant pressure from the Gyrenes as they kept lighting up the scoreboard. Ave Maria hit eight three pointers in the second half, shooting over 50% from the arc. The 100^th point came from Marlon Bennet on a layup to put the Gyrenes on top 101-80.

The Gyrenes hit three more baskets and a free throw to finish the game with 108 points. After eight games with 100+ points last season, Ave Maria finally gets their first triple digit game of the season after six tries. The Gyrenes have scored 100 or more points 43 times in program history, with 19 of those games happening in the last three seasons.

Klekas led the team in scoring with 21 points, shooting 75% from the field. Five more Gyrenes joined him double figures with Bennett and Effertz hitting 18 points, Alex Sherwood scoring 16 and Jay White and Bradley Michel each logging 11 points. It is the first time since February 8, 2025, that Ave Maria has had six or more players score in double figures.

Behind the arc, the Gyrenes hit 13 threes, matching their season-high when they hit 13 against Thomas a few games earlier. Effertz led the team from downtown, hitting four trifectas.

With the win, Ave Maria remains unbeaten and improves to 6-0. It is already the fourth longest win streak to start a season for the Gyrenes. The program record stands at eight games in a row to start a season, something the Gyrenes have done three times, most recently in 2023-24.

After six games on the road to start the season, the Gyrenes are finally home Saturday, November 15, as they take on the Webber Warriors in both their home opener and Sun Conference opener. Ave Maria has won their last seven home openers, dating back to the 2018-19 season. The Gyrenes have also won their last six conference openers.

Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.