Box Score TU men's basketball (13-9, 6-6) dropped a heart breaker last night, falling 67-66 to Ave Maria University (10-15, 4-10) in Ave Maria, Fla.

After a back and forth stretch to open the game, both teams hit a dry spell that saw neither team score from 13:37 to the 10:20 mark of the half. AMU broke the scoreless stretch to take the lead and would lead the remainder of the half, going up by as much as 11 and taking a 35-26 lead into the half.

It took Thomas just over 10 minutes to bring the game back within reach, making it a one point game. In the last 8 minutes of the game there were 5 lead changes and 3 ties. Senior forward Justyn Watkins tied the game at 66 with 4 seconds left by making back to back free throws. TU fouled and puts AMU on the line to shoot two. AMU missed the first and nailed the second to give them a one point lead. After a team timeout by TU with 3 seconds left on the clock, freshman guard Trey Gosier missed a 2 point attempt at the buzzer.

Watkins led the way for the Night Hawks with a season high 37 points, which accounted for more than half of the teams points The only other Night Hawk in double figures was junior Max Grace with 11 points, 9 from behind the arc.

Basketball is back in action at the TU Gymnasium Wednesday February 12^th against Johnson & Wales University. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.