BRUNSWICK, Ga. -  The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team fell to the Ave Maria Gyrenes on Wednesday night, losing by a final score of 86-74 on their home floor. 

The Mariners (7-13, 4-7 SUN) jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead thanks to a three pointer from Salle Wilson and a layup from Jeremiah Camara, but once Ave Maria (19-5, 10-2 SUN) retook the lead at 7-5, they never relinquished it again. D'Andre Jefferson tied the game back up at eight a piece with 12 minutes left in the half, but for the next three minutes it was a 13-7 run for the Gyrenes which culminated in a 21-15 lead for AMU with nine minutes left in the first half.

The Mariners got right back in the ballgame, even tying the game back up for a second time with two free throws from Preston Crisp, but once again Ave Maria responded, this time with a 13-4 run to close out the first half, taking a 37-28 lead into the locker room for halftime.

The second half was a complete opposite attraction from the first 20 minutes of the game as both offenses came out swinging for the fences, both sides putting up over 45 points in the half. Ave Maria started the half on a 8-2 run over the first two minutes of the second half, putting the Mariners down 15 points.  The Mariners had to endure the Gyrenes high powered offense, as the lead grew to as much as 20 points with just seven minutes left in the contest. The lead remained around 20 points until the final two minutes when CCGA closed the game on an 8-2 run, capped by a three pointer from Tre Moore as the Mariners fell to the Gyrenes by a final score of 86-74 inside Coffin Gym.

Thaddeus Burns led the Mariners with 23 points, his second highest total of the season and his highest since he scored 25 points against Thomas earlier this season in an overtime win. Valdy Zephir, Jefferson, and Wilson all finished with nine. With his three, Moore recorded a new season high and his first basket since the Mariners travelled to Ave Maria earlier this season. 

CCGA will now look ahead to Sarasota, Fla. on Saturday as they travel to face the New College of Florida Mighty Banyan, with the matchup holding serious Sun Conference Tournament implications. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m.