THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University Men's basketball team built an 11-point lead into the half, but Divine Intervention had other plans for the Night Hawks, as Fernando Salsamendi's 24-Point Game and a clutch 3-Pointer from Matt Gillis late sealed a come-from-behind 70-63 win for Ave Maria.
 
The Night Hawks saw a drastic difference in team shooting, converting 51.5% from the field in Half 1 but only shot 28.6% in Half 2.  Ave Maria's comeback win was fueled from a bizarre, second-half 68.4% shooting percentage.
 
After exchanging their first six baskets to make the score tied at 12 at the 12:04 mark, the Night Hawks (2-8, 2-2 TSC) jumped out to a 17-12 lead, but Ave Maria (5-4, 3-1 TSC) worked quickly to get the game tied at 19 with 7:09 in the first half. 
 
After a Matt Gillis basket cut Thomas' deficit to 25-23 with 5:12 in the first half, TU ended the half with a 12-3 scoring run, with the team shooting 6-for-12 from the field during that time, to take a 37-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
The second half saw both teams exchange 3-Point baskets, but the Holy Queen's team began their comeback with a 9-2 scoring run that featured three, perfect possessions and three made free throws to cut TU's lead, 42-38.
 
A layup from Sophomore Guard Daniel Merrius at the 9:34 mark put the Night Hawks up by eight, 50-42, but a Matt Gillis layup the following possession would ignite an Ave Maria scoring run for the ages, 21-5, over the course of 7:04, to give Ave Maria its first lead of the second half 63-55.  During that run, TU went 1-for-7 from the field, with the lone basket coming from a 3-Pointer by Junior Guard Toriano Lewis.
 
A timeout with 1:54 remaining, along with a few defensive stops, was what Thomas needed to respond with a 5-0 scoring run to put the game within one possession, 63-60, with 63 seconds left in regulation.
 
Ave Maria gambled on the next possession, taking as much time as they could off the clock, and the risk paid off as Matt Gillis drained a 3-Pointer and the atmosphere in TU Gymnasium with only 38 seconds left to give AMU a 66-60 lead.  Gillis' shot would be enough to seal the deal, as free throws would ultimately solidify AMU's 70-63 victory.
 
Daniel Merrius led all Night Hawks with 13 Points, as Toriano Lewis' 80% shooting percentage from long-range earned him 12 Points on the night.
 
The Night Hawks are back in action Saturday afternoon, as the team will look to rebound against Keiser University.  Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMBKB.