Junior Mike Kennedy scored 34 points and surpassed the 1,000-career point mark in #23 St. Ambrose's 86-60 season-opening win over Graceland Tuesday night in Lee Lohman Arena.

The 6-6 forward scored everywhere, from inside the paint to beyond the arc. He knocked down 13-of-15 shots, including 3-of-5 3-pointers, in finishing with his game-high 34 points, 26 of which came in the first half. Kennedy is the 45th Bee to score 1,000 career points and is 44th on the all-time scoring list with 1,016 points.

St. Ambrose (1-0) scored the game's first seven points and never looked back against Graceland. Bryce Davis started with the first four points before Kennedy took over. He scored 10 quick points as the lead was 17-9 just over five minutes into the contest.

A 12-0 run, highlighted by 10 points from Kennedy, late in the first half gave the Bees their biggest lead of the half at 49-24 before Graceland hit a free throw for a 49-25 halftime score.

After shooting better than 65 percent from the floor in the opening half, SAU barely cooled, shooting almost 64 percent in the second half. The lead grew to as many as 33 points in the second half as Graceland never made a serious run.

Justin Blondell (pictured right) was the only other Bee to hit for double figures as he finished with 10. Justin Tiner and Lorenzo Fiol each scored eight and Davis and Chris Donnelly each netted seven.

Along with shooting nearly 65 percent from the field, St. Ambrose also hit 10-of-20 from beyond the arc and limited Graceland to 36 percent shooting overall.

SAU will next host Emmaus Bible College Friday with tip off slated for 7 p.m.