THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas University senior JaVoris Cooks hit five 3-pointers in the Night Hawks' 84-68 victory over Ave Maria Thursday night at TU Gymnasium. 

The 6-foot-1-inch guard was cooking from long range, hitting two of his three trey attempts in the first half, then he went 3-of-4 from distance in the second stanza. Cooks ended with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. 

Ave Maria's Gianpaolo Riccio scored 27 points and pulled down six rebounds to lead the Gyrenes. Ave Maria drops to 3-23 on the season and 1-14 in the league. 

As a team, Thomas (13-11, 8-8) knocked down a hot 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from distance in the first half, then scorched the net in the second, hitting 85.7 percent (6-of-7), to finish 13-of-18 (72.2%) for the night. 

Four Night Hawks scored in double digits, including Cooks (17), senior Johnnel Ginnie (14) and reserves junior Jalen Bonds (13) and senior Katrell Myers (10). 

TU scored 30 points in the paint and picked up 34 points from its bench. 

Ginnie opened the game with a dunk off an assist by Cook, then took off on a 25-0 run to lead 30-5 midway through the first half. The Night Hawks led by as many as 28 points before the break. Despite Ave Maria outscoring Thomas 51-42 in the second period, TU's first half barrage was too much for the Gyrenes. 

TU, which is 7-3 at home this season, will host a pair of home games to end the regular season. The Night Hawks face off against Southeastern (Fla.) on Feb. 10 at 4 p.m., and Coastal Georgia on Feb. 17 at 4 p.m.