Days after playing exhibition games at NCAA Division I Northern Iowa and Drake, St. Ambrose needed overtime in its return to NAIA play.

And behind 20 points from Ben Schols and five big points from Will Spriggs in the extra session, the Bees were able to escape with a 74-69 win at Hannibal-LaGrange Thursday night.

It was Spriggs who sealed the win, knocking down a shot inside the final 10 seconds that gave St. Ambrose a five-point lead. The freshman also started the overtime scoring, breaking a 65-65 tie with a basket in the paint 30 seconds in. Tom Kazanecki followed with a jumper, and after the teams traded empty possessions, Spriggs hit 1-of-2 from the line to extend the lead to 70-65 with 1:14 left.

Hannibal-LaGrange (1-7) got to within three points twice in the final minute. But with the Bees nursing a 70-67 lead, John Kerr scored inside to restore a five-point lead, and then seconds later, Spriggs hit his game-clinching shot to end the scoring.

The extra five minutes helped St. Ambrose overcome some offensive struggles.

The Bees shot less than 40 percent from the floor, including an 8-of-32 mark from beyond the arc, and connected on just 12-of-21 from the line.

Those shooting difficulties didn't pertain to Schols, who knocked down 7-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-8 3-point tries, in netting his team-high 20 points.

Kerr finished with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, helping the Bees to a 47-36 rebounding advantage. Spriggs and Kazanecki each scored 11, with Kazanecki pulling down eight boards.

Dylan Kaczmarek scored all seven of his points in the second half to go along with nine rebounds. Warren Allen collected six boards in his 12 minutes of work, and Jake Friel collected six points, four rebounds and three assists in the win.

SAU, now 2-0, will play its home opener Monday against Missouri Baptist. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.