Turnovers proved to be the difference as St. Ambrose lost its season opener to Cumberland 91-86 on the first day of the Calumet Crimson Wave Classic in Whiting, Ind., Friday night.

The Bees committed 18 turnovers, leading to 26 Phoenix points. Ten of those turnovers came in the first half.

The miscues came on a night when SAU shot 50 percent from the floor, hit nearly 43 percent from beyond the arc, and handed out 25 assists on 31 made baskets.

St. Ambrose was able to stay close despite Cumberland shooting 64 percent from the floor and nearly the same percentage from 3-point range.

The Bees battled back from a 13-point first-half deficit to ultimately go in front 50-49 on a Razak Sudani layup just over a minute into the second half.

SAU was able to maintain a slim lead for much of the second half. But after taking a 76-73 lead on a Nolan Deitrich 3-pointer, the Bees would hit a five-minute dry spell. That allowed the Phoenix to run off 14 straight points to go in front 87-76. A Collin Wainscott three ended the drought, but it came with only 37 seconds remaining, too late for SAU to rally.

The late three capped a big night from Wainscott, who finished 8-for-10 from beyond the arc in scoring a team-high 24 points.

Three other Bees scored in double figures. Deitrich knocked down five triples en route to scoring 20 points. Guillermo Narbona scored 14 points to go along with eight rebounds and nine assists. And Ignacio Dacunda netted 12 points.

Nolan Sexton scored six points, Sudani and Nikos Gerokostas each cored four, and Kieran Farrell added two. Sexton matched Narbona with nine assists while Gerokostas pulled down five boards in the loss.

SAU is back in action Saturday to battle Simmons on the final day of the Wave Classic.