St. Ambrose trimmed a 15-point deficit with nine minutes remaining to a single point but could not complete the comeback in an 86-85 loss at Saint Xavier Wednesday night.

The loss evens the Bees' record at 11-11 overall and they fall to 6-7 in the CCAC.

Trailing most of the way, SAU found itself down 75-60 midway through the second half.

Blake Buls had six points as part of an 11-2 run that cut the margin to a manageable 77-71 with just over five minutes left. Two minutes later, Dylan Kaczmarek knocked down a 3-pointer to pull the Bees to within 79-76. John Kerr kept the deficit at three points with a 3-pointer of his own to make the score 82-79 with 2:19 to play.

St. Ambrose got a stop to have a chance to get closer but committed a turnover and Saint Xavier (14-8, 8-5 CCAC) then scored the game's next four points to build a 86-79 advantage with 46 seconds left.

Jake Meeske completed a three-point play to bring the Bees to within four points. After the Cougars missed a pair of free throws, Tyler Hilby's 3-point attempt from the wing spun out. Two more SXU misses from the line led to Kaczmarek three with one second left to pull SAU to within 86-85. In the final second, Saint Xavier again misfired from the line but Jalen Jones's full-court heave at the buzzer was well short.

SAU was able to stay close despite SXU shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor for the game and 65 percent in the second half. The Cougars also attempted more than twice as many free throws as the Bees (35-16).

Meeske led St. Ambrose with 18 points. Kerr came up with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Lee Hardrick (15 points) and Buls (10) gave the Bees four players in double figures.

St. Ambrose will next visit Olivet Nazarene Saturday.