MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Bobcats of St. Thomas University handed Warner University men's basketball team their first loss in two weeks snapping a four-game winning streak with a 66-51 score on Tuesday night in Fernandez Family Center.  The Royals and Bobcats split their season series with the home team winning both contests. 

The Royals, who moved up to 24^th earlier Tuesday afternoon in the latest NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' poll, drop to 16-5 with the loss and are now 6-5 in The Sun Conference.  The Bobcats improve to 12-9 and 7-5 in league play.

The first 10 minutes of the first half was a back and forth battle between the two sides.  The Royals had the first lead of the game as Josh Ellis scored on Warner's first possession.  Later at the 8:44 mark, Warren Hall hit two free throws to tie the game for the sixth time of the half at 17-17.  Over the next five minutes the Royals went scoreless as the Bobcats scored 11 straight points.  Ellis ended the Royals' drought with a bucket in the paint with 3:40 to go before halftime.

The Royals scored one more time in the half and the Bobcats continued to shoot well and led 37-21 at the break.  Hall led the Warner scorers with eight points in the first half.  Collectively, the Royals shot just 31.8% from the field in the half and were 1-of-7 from behind the arc.

The Royals' offense picked up in the second half as they worked to cut the Bobcats lead down to nine, 48-39, with 10:14 left on the clock.  Hall scored 15 points to lead the second half charge.

The Bobcats answered with an 8-0 run and led by 17 with 4:51 to go in the game.  The home team maintained their double-digit lead the rest of the way avenging the Royals overtime win from Jan. 24.

Warren Hall registered his eighth 20-point game of the season finishing with 23 points against the Bobcats.  Antonio Ansley came off the bench and was second on the team with 11 points.  Eddie Delegal led the team with four assists and also had eight rebounds.

The Royals return to the Turner Athletic Center on Thursday, Feb. 5, for their second meeting of the season with Thomas University (Ga.).  The Royals won in Thomasville, Ga. back on Jan. 10 by a score of 81-70.  Thursday's Sun Conference doubleheader begins at 5:30 p.m. with women's basketball action.  The men's game will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.