Ave Maria opened its season with an 82-81 win over No. 24 Wayland Baptist, holding on after a 19-point lead disappeared and the Pioneers briefly moved ahead. Zane McCarty’s late 3-pointer helped secure the lead, and Wayland’s final shot came after time expired.

By the Numbers
  • Ave Maria: 82; Wayland Baptist: 81.
  • Ave Maria led by as many as 19 points.
  • Noah Lovan led Ave Maria with 16 points; Alex Sherwood had 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.
  • Ave Maria made 10 3-pointers; Wayland Baptist made 7.
Yes, But

The win came with a warning: Wayland Baptist turned a 19-point deficit into a one-point lead in under six minutes, as Ave Maria struggled with turnovers. Coach Jamon Copeland praised the team’s toughness but said there was plenty to clean up.

What's Next

Ave Maria hosts Florida College on Saturday, Oct. 31, with tipoff set for 4 p.m. The game will stream on the Sun Digital Network.

Bottom Line

The Gyrenes opened with a statement win over a ranked opponent—but sustaining their early control will require sharper execution under pressure.