After leading the entire way, St. Ambrose saw Mount Mercy close to within three points at 64-61 with 7:34 left. But the Bees pulled together, closing the game on an 18-2 run to post an 82-63 road win Saturday afternoon.

After Mount Mercy (0-3) got within a single possession, Aiden Cilladi had four straight points to rebuild a seven-point lead. The Mustangs scored what proved to be their final points to cut the deficit to 68-63.

SAU would score the final 14 points of the game.

An Ignacio Dacunda pushed the lead to 69-63. Jake Friel scored on a layup and then Dacunda knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead to double figures at 74-63. Two Friel free throws were followed by layups from Guillermo Narbona, Dacunda and Friel to end the scoring.

Over that final 7:34, SAU limited MMU to just 1-of-12 shooting from the floor. The Bees also forced three turnovers over the closing stretch.

It was another strong shooting day for St. Ambrose. The Bees shot better than 58 percent from the floor (32-of-55) and nearly 43 percent from beyond the arc (9-of-21). Mount Mercy shot just 43 percent overall and 22 percent from deep.

The Bees also controlled the boards, out-rebounding the Mustangs 39-22.

Dacunda led five Bees in double figures with a game-high 23 points. He was 9-of-11 from the floor. Friel scored 13, Cilladi came off the bench to net 12, Elgin Bowen Jr. scored 11 and Narbona dropped in 10. Atem Agot (six points), Nathan Moeller (five) and Ty Slager (two) competed the St. Ambrose scoring.

Friel led all players with both nine rebounds and six assists. Dacunda grabbed eight boards, Narbona had seven and Cilladi finished with six.

SAU, now 3-1 overall, will play an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Western Illinois Sunday before visiting Missouri Baptist Wednesday night.