Mount Mercy's Antwain Strong hit a driving runner at the buzzer to send St. Ambrose to a 72-71 loss on opening night.

The Bees had taken the lead inside the final minute when Michael Knoll scored inside for a 71-70 lead. After a defensive stop, SAU ran the clock down but Knoll's jumper was off the mark.

The 15th-ranked Mustangs grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 2.7 seconds to play.

On the ensuing inbounds from the side, Strong received the pass, took a couple dribbles and finished as the horn sounded.

It was a difficult loss for the Bees, who led for much of the second half against a nationally-ranked opponent. Neither team lead by more than seven points at any time.

A 7-0 run midway through the second half gave SAU that seven-point lead. Joe Brennan started the spurt with a 3-pointer and Tanner Reid followed with a three of his own. A Blake Johnson free throw gave St. Ambrose a 59-52 lead with 9:37 remaining.

Mount Mercy (1-0) answered with a 10-3 run to tie things at 62-62. After the Mustangs went ahead 69-67, Jacoby Posley buried a jumper to tie the score at 69-69 with two minutes to play. MMU hit 1-of-2 from the line before Knoll hit his late jumper setting up the final sequence.

Turnovers proved to be SAU's undoing. The Bees shot better than 50 percent from the floor and knocked down 7-of-17 from beyond the arc, but 30 turnovers, including 18 in the first half, were costly.

Reid led all scorers with 17 points. Demetrius Butler scored 14 while Posley and Knoll each netted 10.

St. Ambrose limited Mount Mercy to 36.7 percent shooting for the game.

The early going does not get any easier as SAU will face Graceland and No. 19 Midland as part of the Mount Mercy ActionCOACH Shootout in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Friday and Saturday.