Days after needing a rally to overcome a 20-point second-half deficit at Governors State, No. 18 St. Ambrose used a perfect start to defeat Cardinal Stritch 73-68 at Lee Lohman Arena Saturday afternoon.

The Bees connected on their first 11 shots from the floor and never relinquished the lead in moving to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the CCAC. It marks the team's best eight-game start to a season since the 2010-11 team also started 7-1. It is also the Bees' first 3-0 start in conference play since the 2011-12 team opened 4-0 in the old Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC).

SAU got off to a fast start in winning its fifth straight game. Five different Bees scored as part of the fast start that included four 3-pointers. John Kerr had seven points during the opening run. Jake Meeske knocked down two triples; Warren Allen also had six points, including a dunk; and Michael Williams added five points. Tom Kazanecki closed the 11-for-11 start with a basket that gave St. Ambrose a 26-10 lead seven minutes into the game.

St. Ambrose shot 19-of-29 overall and 7-of-12 on threes in building a 47-32 halftime lead.

The Bees cooled considerably in the second half to allow Cardinal Stritch to climb back into the game.

The Wolves (7-3, 2-2 CCAC) got within six points with less than six minutes to play, but Meeske hit a three and Kazanecki followed with two free throws to restore a 66-55 advantage.

Dylan Kaczmarek gave SAU what seemed a comfortable 70-61 lead with just over two minutes left, but a 5-0 CSU run trimmed the margin to 70-66 with 54 seconds on the clock. After running down the shot clock, Meeske buried a jumper, and followed two Wolves' free throws with one of his own with 13 seconds to go to close the scoring.

Meeske finished with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He scored 13 of the Bees' 26 second-half points to help St. Ambrose hold on.

Kerr and Allen each finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Williams scored eight points and Ben Schols came off the bench to add five points.

The Bees will next visit Mount Mercy Monday before returning to CCAC play Wednesday with a 6 p.m. home game against Roosevelt. St. Ambrose, along with Calumet St. Joseph (9-0, 3-0 CCAC), is one of just two unbeatens in conference play.