St. Ambrose shot just 39.1 percent from the field in a 96-71 home loss to Governors State Thursday night.

But even improved shooting may not have mattered against a hot-shooting Jaguar team.

Governors State shot 56.3 percent from the floor and connected on 14-of-24 threes, with just a 3-point miss in the closing seconds keeping them under 60 percent from deep for the game.

Three threes in the opening four minutes helped the Jaguars to an 11-2 lead. Minutes later, a 3-pointer from Lee Hardrick and an offensive rebound and put-back from Michael Williams helped the Bees claw to within 17-15. It was the first of three times SAU got within a single possession, the last coming at 22-19 on a Tyler Hilby jumper midway through the first half.

But over the final three minutes of the half, GSU outscored SAU 9-2 to take a 46-32 lead at the break.

Governors State (6-5, 4-0 CCAC) hit 5-of-8 triples in the second half to maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Hardrick led all players with 19 points, 13 of those coming in the first half. John Kerr scored 11 points and matched Warren Allen with a team-best seven rebounds. Jake Meeske scored 10 points and Blake Buls finished with eight.

The Bees, now 5-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference, will visit Cardinal Stritch Saturday at 3 p.m.