More coverage:
Bees crash the boards, edge Judson - Steve Batterson, Quad-City Times
Photos: Judson men's basketball at St. Ambrose - Andy Abeyta, Quad-City Times
St. Ambrose men, women each beat Judson - KWQC-TV
St. Ambrose MBB score a 5-point home win - WQAD-TV

The Bees rebounded in more ways than one Wednesday night.

St. Ambrose bounced back from a lethargic 94-66 home loss to Clarke Monday night and grabbed a 50-30 edge on the boards to defeat Judson 77-72 in Lee Lohman Arena.

The win helped SAU keep pace in a crowded CCAC race. At 5-6 in the conference, the Bees sit in a three-way tie for ninth place in the standings, but are just a single game behind six teams currently tied for third with 6-5 records.

Blake Buls and John Kerr did most of the damage on the glass, each coming up with five offensive rebounds as part of his 11 total boards. St. Ambrose claimed 18 offensive rebounds as a team leading to 16 second-chance points.

Kerr also scored a team-best 18 points while Buls just missed a double-double, dropping in nine points.

The Bees overcame an eight-point first-half deficit to post a 47-43 halftime lead on a Dylan Kaczmarek 3-pointer at the buzzer. SAU maintained its lead throughout much of the second half, at one point taking a nine-point lead at 57-48 on a Kerr layup with just under 14 minutes to go.

But over the next four minutes, Judson (8-13, 4-7 CCAC) made a move. A 13-4 run knotted the score at 61-61 at the midway point of the second half.

St. Ambrose was able to regain the lead on what else, but an offensive rebound. Kaczmarek's offensive board and putback broke the tie and after a stop, Buls hit two free throws for a 65-61 lead. Kerr then scored inside for a six-point advantage.

The Eagles got within a single possession twice in the final six minutes, the last time at 75-72 with two minutes remaining. The Bees survived two misses and a turnover as Judson missed two free throws and a potential game-tying 3-pointer down the stretch. Finally, after that missed three, Lee Hardrick found Jalen Jones for a breakaway dunk in the closing seconds to wrap up the win.

Video courtesy SAUtv

Jake Meeske came off the bench to score 14 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Hardrick scored 11 and handed out seven assists. Jones matched Buls with nine points, while Kaczmarek and Greg Wagner each netted six.

St. Ambrose will close its three-game homestand Saturday with a 3 p.m. game against Indiana South Bend.