St. Ambrose went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's best, but a late 8-0 run was the difference in a 77-72 loss to No. 23 Bethel (Ind.) Saturday afternoon as part of the Clarke Tip-Off Classic.

A John Kerr basket tied the score at 69-69 with just over two minutes left before the Pilots went on their decisive eight-point spurt. During the run, the Bees committed a turnover and went 0-for-3 from the floor before Dylan Kaczmarek hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to account for the final score.

The loss came after St. Ambrose rallied from a double-digit first-half deficit. The margin was 38-30 one minute into the second half before 3-pointers from Kaczmarek and Kerr sandwiched around a Michael Williams basket tied the score at 38-38.

The game went back and forth from there with neither team leading by more than five points until the final minute. SAU's last lead came at 65-64 on a Kerr jumper with four minutes to play.

Warren Allen led St. Ambrose with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He was 7-of-11 from the floor, and added three steals, two assists and two blocks in the loss.

Kerr was the only other Bee to score in double digits, finishing with 19. Fourteen of those came in the second half. He also pulled down nine boards.

Kaczmarek, Williams and Jake Meeske each finished with eight points.

SAU (2-1) will play its home opener Wednesday against Mount Mercy. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.