Bees make final run to defeat Crimson Wave 76-64
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Calumet (IN) (1-7, 1-5) | 24 | 40 | 64 |
|
St. Ambrose (2-5, 1-3) | 40 | 36 | 76 |
In a game of runs, St. Ambrose struck last. The Fighting Bees outscored Calumet St. Joseph 24-6 over the final 8:50 to win 76-64 Monday night inside Lee Lohman Arena.
In their first home game since the sudden passing of teammate Patrick Torrey, the Bees found themselves down 58-52 inside the final nine minutes. But Will Spriggs himself outscored the Crimson Wave 11-6 down the stretch to help SAU rally.
It was a Kieran Farrell free throw that pulled the Bees even at 60-60. Andrew Morrissey followed with two free throws to give St. Ambrose a lead it would not relinquish. Spriggs knocked down a jumper and then Grant Mason and Spriggs combined for three free throws to extend the lead to 67-60. Calumet (1-7, 1-5 CCAC) got as close as 70-64 but Spriggs hit four free throws around an Amarey Wills basket to close out the win.
That final charge was SAU's third big run of the game.
Mason scored the first seven points of the game and a Morrissey jumper handed St. Ambrose a 9-0 lead just over three minutes into the contest.
Calumet battled back to within 27-24 late in the half before the Bees' pieced together a second run. Ignacio Dacunda and Jayven Jones each hit a 3-pointer and scored five points as part of a 13-0 run that put St. Ambrose in front 40-24 at the break.
But the hot shooting to end the first half was followed by an equally cold stretch to open the second, allowing CCSJ to ultimately pull in front 58-52, before SAU's final spurt clinched the win.
Mason finished with a game-high 19 points. Spriggs came off the bench to net 14. Morrissey posted a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double and Wills dropped in 10 points to give the Bees four players in double figures.
Jones and Dacunda each scored seven in the win. Farrell had four points. Max Steiner chipped in with two points and four rebounds and Adam Burgert added a point.
St. Ambrose shot better than 44 percent from the field and limited Calumet to 39-percent shooting. The Bees were unable to pull away until late thanks to a 25-of-40 performance from the line.
SAU, now 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the CCAC, will host Florida Palms Friday and Saturday.
