AVE MARIA, Fla. — It was a banner night for the Ave Maria Men's Basketball team Wednesday as the Gyrenes continue to make history in the 2025-26 season. The day started with the Gyrenes getting bumped up one spot in the NAIA Top 25 poll to number four in the country, the highest any team at Ave Maria has been ranked in school history. During the game, Jonathan Effertz tied the all-time career record for three-pointers, matching Lucas Uzadavinis who played at Ave Maria from 2017-23. The night ended with Ave Maria getting their 20^th win of the season, beating New College of Florida 102-62. It is the fastest Ave Maria has ever reached 20 wins in a season.

The game started off quietly and was a little bit of a challenge for the Gyrenes. Ave Maria missed their first 11 field goal attempts from three-point range. Despite the poor shooting, the Gyrenes were able to hang in the game. What helped keep the game in reach was nine New College turnovers off seven steals during that stretch. The advantage bounced back and forth between the two teams with a few ties and a couple of lead changes.

Ave Maria first three of the game came from Marlon Bennett, giving the Gyrenes a 20-18 lead right before halfway point of the frame. That was the last lead change of the game as the Gyrenes held onto the advantage for the rest of the game.

The lead really started to grow following the second media timeout when the Gyrenes went on a 15-2 run to extend their lead from six points to 19 points. AMU hit three trifectas during the stretch from three different players. The Gyrenes cruised for the rest of the frame and took a 49-33 lead into the locker room.

Back from the break, the Gyrenes continued their domination over the Mighty Banyans, outscoring New College 20-8 in the first seven minutes. Ave Maria hit four three-pointers during the stretch, with three coming from Effertz. That brought his career total to 269 three-pointers, tied for the most in program history. Uzdavinis hit his final three-pointer February 18, 2023, against Keiser. At the time, Effertz was just a freshman on the team and finished the year with 39. In the 1,075 days since that regular season finale, Effertz has made up to 230 he trailed Uzdavinis and his one three away from taking the record for himself.

The run gave Ave Maria a 28-point and lead and yet it continued to grow. The Gyrenes hit their largest lead of the night at 41 points off a three-pointer from Bradley Michel to go up 88-47.

Ave Maria hit triple digits with just under two-minutes left off a free throw from Pablo Hernandez, making it the fourth 100+ point game of the season. When the final horn sounded, the Gyrenes walked off the court with a 40-point victory.

"Didn't shoot it well [at the start], but I was proud of our guys," said head coach Jamon Copeland following the win. "We gave ourselves a chance because of the possession battle. We were plus 23 possessions, which is incredible, due to our pressure [defense] turned them over and then our ability on the offensive glass. So, I think that was the difference in the game."

Six Gyrenes hit double figures, the first time that has happened since December 18. Alex Sherwood led the group with 18 points, followed by Effertz and Bennett at 15, Jack Watkins, Bradley Alcime and Michel at 12. Sherwood recorded his 11^th double-double of the year, tying him with Fernando Salsamedi for the second-most in a single season in program history.

With the win, Ave Maria improves to 20-2 overall and 9-1 in conference play. Twenty-two games are the fastest any Gyrene team has hit 20 wins in a season, passing the previous mark of 24 games set in the 2012-13 season.

The Gyrenes got a little help from around the Sun Conference as the Coastal Georgia Mariners defeated the Southeastern Fire, giving SEU their third conference loss of the season. Ave Maria is now a game and a half ahead of the second place Keiser Seahawks and two games ahead of Southeastern and Florida Memorial who are tied for third place.

The Gyrenes stay home as Wednesday was the start of a three-game homestand. Ave Maria is back action Saturday, January 31, as they take on the Florida Memorial Lions. The Gyrenes dominated FMU in Miami Gardens in the first meeting, never trailing in the game and winning 90-75. The game on Saturday is one of six games on campus at Ave Maria that day. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.