St. Ambrose shook off some first-half turnover problems to defeat Mount Mercy 86-75 in the Bees' season opener Monday night.

After graduating several multi-year starters at the end last season, SAU had returning players in enhanced roles and a few new faces in the lineup to begin the 2021-22 campaign.

That, and playing a Mustang team taking the court for the third time this season, led to some sloppiness early. The Bees committed 12 turnovers in the opening half, but were able to maintain a 34-29 lead at the break thanks to limiting the Mustangs to 26.5-percent shooting.

St. Ambrose cleaned things up in the second half.

Committing just five turnovers and shooting better than 55 percent from the floor, the Bees scored 52 second-half points and pulled away for the double-digit win.

After Mount Mercy (2-1) got within a point at 37-36 in the opening moments of the second half, St. Ambrose used a pair of Drake Gunn scores, a 3-pointer from Tom Kazanecki and a Will Spriggs free throw to open up a 45-36 lead.

The advantage was 56-48 midway through the final half before the Bees put together a decisive 9-0 run. Gunn got it started with two free throws before his steal led to a layup and a 60-48 lead. Patrick Torrey knocked down a jumper and then Spriggs buried a three to up the margin to 65-48. The lead was double digits the rest of the way.

Gunn finished with a game-high 20 points. Kazanecki, who was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and 10-of-12 from the line, scored 18. Spriggs (16 points) and Grant Mason (13 points on 6-of-6 shooting) came off the bench to score in double figures.

Ben Schols added nine points and Torrey chipped in with six points and a team-best nine rebounds in the win. Kazanecki and Jake Conerty each pulled down six boards.

The huge second half helped SAU shoot nearly 51 percent from the floor for the game. The Bees connected on 5-of-7 3-point attempts in the second half to finish at 7-of-14 overall. The Bees also shot better than 80 percent from the line as a team.

St. Ambrose will open CCAC play Wednesday by hosting Judson in a 7:30 p.m. contest.