Sun Conference Semifinals
Score: Keiser 79, Ave Maria 62
Records: Keiser (19-9), Ave Maria (20-11)
Location: Turner Center, Lake Wales, Fla.

For the first time since 2018, the Keiser men's basketball team is headed to the Sun Conference Tournament Championship after toppling Ave Maria 79-62 Friday evening.

The Seahawks will play in their eighth championship game in program history on Saturday.




Keiser 33, Ave Maria 36

• The two Sun Conference foes mirrored each other in the opening six minutes of their fourth meeting of the season as Keiser led 11-10.
• A Quinton Glaspie putback sparked a quick 5-0 surge for the Seahawks as they pushed their lead to 16-10 and forced an Ave Maria timeout at the 14:03 mark.
• Out of the stoppage, Ave Maria responded with an 11-1 run to jump in front, 21-17, at the 10:09 media timeout.
• Antwan Claxton ended the run with a corner three-pointer, and Darius Bryant followed with a jumper to put Keiser back on top, 22-21, as 8:54 showed on the clock.
• The Gyrenes answered with a 6-2 stretch, reclaiming the lead, 27-24, at the 7:25 mark.
• Trailing 31-26, Keiser reeled off seven of the next nine points, capped off by a Michael Gavin triple, to knot the score at 33-33 with 1:15 left in the half.
• Ave Maria followed with a three on the other end to take a 36-33 lead into the break.

Keiser 79, Ave Maria 62

• Keiser shot out of the gates to start the second half with an 11-1 run to open a 44-37 lead and force an Ave Maria timeout at the 15:27 mark.
• Bryant sparked the surge with a layup and bookended it with a corner triple.
• After the Gyrenes drew within four, 49-45, Keiser opened a 14-point lead, 64-50, courtesy of a 15-5 run as 5:50 showed on the clock.
• Back-to-back threes by the Gyrenes slowed the Seahawks briefly as Ave Maria cut the lead to eight, 64-56, with 3:57 left in the game.
• Keiser put away the game for good with a 14-4 run, capped off by a Glaspie layup, to stretch their lead to the largest of the game, 79-60, with 18 ticks left on the clock.
• The Gyrenes recorded the final basket of the evening as Keiser went on to win 79-62 and advanced to their eighth TSC Championship game in school history.

 

• 3: Claxton swiped a game-best three steals in the win.
• 4: Four Seahawks reached double figures, led by Lott with a game-best 20.
• 4: Claxton and CoreVon Lott dished out a game-best four assists apiece.
• 8: Keiser will make their eighth appearance in the TSC Tournament Championship.
• 9: The Seahawks won the battle on the boards 40-31.
• 13: Lott collected his 13th 20-point performance of the season.
• 18/9: Claxton just missed a double-double as the senior finished with 18 points and a game-best nine boards.
• 50.0: Keiser scorched the nets as they shot 50.0 percent from the field for the game.

Keiser

• Points: Lott (20)
• Rebounds: Claxton (9)
• Assists: Claxton/Lott (4)

 
Ave Maria

• Points: Salsamendi (16)
• Rebounds: Salsamendi (8)
• Assists: Sanchez (3)

Keiser vs. St. Thomas on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 6:00 p.m. inside the Turner Athletic Center in Lake Wales, Fla., for the Sun Conference Championship.