LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Royals proved that they are still a threat in the Sun-Conference and right there in the mix as we reach closer to post-season basketball after defeating the NAIA (RV) Ave Maria Gyrenes 74-73.
 
Warner has suffered a few late game follies this season, but tonight showed that they are an elite team after overcoming a 7-point deficit in the 2^nd half to grab their 17^th win this season.
 
The Royals came out a little flat in the 1^st half, not playing with the same fire that we have grown used to seeing from the team and trailed the Gyrenes by 8, 33-25 as the teams went into the locker room for half time.
 
Warner was very sporadic on the offensive side of the ball, shooting only 33% from the field in the half. Jaquez Dickerson lead the Royals with 8 points in the 1^st half.
 
The Gyrenes did an excellent job of keeping the Royals leading scorer, Maxwell Benoit, to only 1 shot the entire half. Benoit came into the game with 463 points scored this season, 155 more points than the next closest scorer, Darryl Mercer Jr.
 
Darryl Mercer Jr. erupted for 17 points in the 2^nd half, going 7-9 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc.
 
With 10 minutes left in the game Warner trailed by 7 but quickly erased the Gyrenes lead, holding a 57-53 with 6:26 left.
 
With 1:35 left in the game, the Royals took a 3-point lead after Darryl Mercer Jr. laid in fast-break layup off an assist from Rod Boggan.
 
Seconds later the Gyrenes tied the game up 67-67 after hitting quick 3-point shot. 
 
In the last minute and half the Royals sank 7 free-throws, finishing with 74 points, upsetting Ave, and keeping playoff hopes alive.
 
Darryl Mercer lead the Royals with 21 points, Jaquez Dickerson missed grabbing a double-double by 1 rebound, and Rod Boggan came on strong down the stretch to finish with 18 points in the game.
 
For more season stats please visit: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Team/IndividualStats.aspx?association=10&sg=MBB&sea=NAIMBB_2019&conference=NAIMBB2_FSC&team=626