Box Score

TU (9-7, 2-4) ended their four game losing by topping the visiting Ave Maria University Gyrenes (6-10, 0-5), 76-70, in a Wednesday evening Sun Conference match up at the Thomas University Gymnasium.

Sophomore center Andrea Robinson opened the scoring for the Night Hawks with a two point bucket 34 seconds into the game. Ave responded with four unanswered points to take away the Night Hawks early momentum. The Gyrenes held the lead throughout most of the up tempo first half, stretching their advantage to seven at the ten minute mark. TU used an 8-2 run to close the margin and take a 25-24 lead when senior forward Justyn Watkins delivered his first bucket of the day and converted his free throw to complete a three point play with 4:25 to play. Thomas closed out the period on a 6-3 run, taking a 31-27 lead into the half.

The teams exchanged buckets in the early going of the second with Ave making it a two point game two minutes into the half. Thomas stepped up to the challenge and kept AMU from getting any closer, eventually stretching their lead to four until a Watkins dunk on an alley-oop made it a 42-36 game. With 11:10 to play Watkins struck again, this time creating a turnover on a steal and converting a fast break lay-up to give TU a nine point advantage, their largest of the game. Ave Maria would not go down quietly, staying within striking distance and eventually making it a three point game with 4:30 to play. Thomas once again withstood the Gyrenes, closing out the game with some clutch shooting including two three pointers, first by junior guard max Grace and followed by junior Rodney Sturkie at the 2:25 mark. Grace finished the game with a team high 19, including 3-6 from behind the arc. Watkins, after a slow start, had 18 points on 5-8 shooting from the field while converting 8 of 10 from the stripe. Robinson pulled down 10 rebounds.

Thomas will be back on the road seeking to climb closer to .500 in TSC play, when they travel to North Miami, FL to face Johnson & Wales University on Saturday at 4PM.