On a day they limited the opposition to 38-percent shooting from the field, it was the free throw line that proved costly to St. Ambrose as the Bees fell to St. Francis 58-55 in Lee Lohman Arena Saturday afternoon.

Conference-leading USF outscored SAU 15-6 from the line, which included two free throws in the final three seconds, to escape with the win.

In a game featuring 16 ties and 11 lead changes, and where neither team held a lead of more than five points, St. Ambrose (12-5, 5-5 CCAC) took its final lead at 53-52 on a Will Spriggs three-point play with just under three minutes remaining.

St. Francis (15-2, 9-1 CCAC) regained the lead on a layup on its next possession. Atem Agot split a pair of free throws with 1:45 left on the clock to knot the score at 54-54. The Bees got the ball back, and inside the final minute, had a chance at the lead but Spriggs misfired on a 3-pointer.

SAU got a stop, but USF tracked down an offensive rebound and scored to go in front 56-54. It was one of nine offensive boards the Bees surrendered, as they were outscored 15-2 on second-chance points.

Spriggs missed a potential game-tying jumper with six seconds left and the Saints sealed the win from the line. First splitting a pair of free throws with three seconds left to build a 57-54 advantage. And then after Spriggs split two free throws, St. Francis added a final free throw in the last second to account for the final score.

The Bees finished 23-of-51 from the floor, good for a slightly better than 45 percent. They were just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc, however.

Spriggs led the team with 20 points. He was also credited with five steals. The other four SAU starters combined for just 14 points as Agot scored nine and Guillermo Narbona added five. Agot and Narbona each pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.

Ignacio Dacunda came off the bench to match Agot with nine points. Collin Wainscott, Nikos Gerokostas and Austin Born each finished with four points.

St. Ambrose will look to bounce back with a conference game at Olivet Nazarene Wednesday.