A Trey Affolter 3-pointer forced overtime but St. Ambrose watched Clarke open the extra session with an 8-0 run in an eventual 87-82 loss on the second day of Clarke's Holiday Inn Express Tip-Off Classic in Dubuque, Iowa, Saturday night.

The Pride hit back-to-back threes to open a 79-73 lead in overtime. Clarke extended the lead to 81-73 before Jake Meeske finally got St. Ambrose on the board with a jumper with 1:38 remaining.

Meeske scored again to close the gap to 81-77 inside the final minute. After two Clarke free throws, Ben Schols knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 83-80 with 31 seconds left. The Pride split a pair from the line but the Bees turned it over on their next possession leading to two more Clarke free throws. Affolter hit a driving layup with four seconds left before Clarke ended the scoring with another free throw in the final second.

It marked the first loss of the year for an SAU team that opened with back-to-back blowout wins.

The Bees found themselves down 12 points midway through the second half. But over a three-minute span, Meeske and John Kerr sparked a 16-0 run. Meeske connected on eight straight free throws to start the spurt, including six coming after getting fouled on consecutive 3-point attempts.

Kerr scored to cut the deficit to 56-54 and blocked a floater on the other end that led to a Meeske triple and a 57-56 lead. Another defensive stop led to a Kerr three that gave St. Ambrose a 60-56 advantage with just over six minutes left.

Clarke responded and ultimately built a 73-68 lead with 23 seconds remaining. Schols hit a jumper and after a Meeske steal, Affolter buried the game-tying three with 13 seconds on the clock. The Pride missed a long three in the final seconds sending the game to overtime.

Meeske scored 21 points to go along with six rebounds. Kerr finished with 20 points and 11 boards. Michael Williams (12) and Schols (11) also scored in double figures.

The Bees finished with 24 turnovers in the loss.

SAU will look to bounce back Wednesday night in the start of CCAC play against Trinity Christian. The home opener will tip off at 7:30 p.m. inside Lee Lohman Arena.