Jake Meeske hit the first of two free throws with 2.4 seconds left to break a 74-74 tie and lift St. Ambrose to a 75-74 home-opening win over Mount Mercy Wednesday night.

The Mustangs (2-1) had tied the game with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds before Meeske drove the length of the floor and was fouled. After he made the first free throw, Mount Mercy called its final timeout. The junior guard intentionally missed the second attempt and the Mustangs were unable to get off a final shot.

The win came after the Bees rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final 12 minutes. Trailing 54-47 with 11 minutes left, SAU pieced together an 11-3 run behind four points from John Kerr and a big 3-pointer from Michael Williams to take a 58-57 lead. MMU rebuilt a 65-60 lead with under six minutes remaining. Two Meeske free throws were followed by seven straight points from Kerr, including a three that put the Bees in front 69-65 with 2:50 to go.

Warren Allen capped his 24-point night with a basket to up the lead to 73-68 with just over a minute left. But two Mustang triples sandwiched around a Meeske free throw tied the score setting up Meeske's game winner.

St. Ambrose (3-1) shot 47.1 percent from the field, including nearly 55 percent in the second half, and used a 48-39 rebounding advantage to offset 17 Mount Mercy 3-pointers. The Mustangs were 17-of-52 from beyond the arc, with 10 of those triples coming in the second half.

Both teams struggled from the line with SAU converting just 7-of-16 and MMU connecting on just 3-of-9.

Allen finished with his game-high 24 points and added 11 rebounds and three assists in the win. He was 11-of-14 from the floor.

Meeske totaled 16 points and nine boards, and Kerr finished with 13 points, all coming in the second half, and eight rebounds. Williams finished with nine points. Tom Kazanecki came off the bench to contribute six points and six boards. Ben Schols came down with seven rebounds.

The Bees will next head to Gary, Ind., to face Rochester (Mich.) Friday at 5 p.m.