St. Ambrose watched Mount Mercy score the first 12 points of the game and the Bees never fully recovered in falling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 88-74 Wednesday night.

Over the first three minutes, SAU missed three shots and committed three turnovers in watching Mount Mercy (2-2) race out to the early lead.

The Mustangs were able to hold on thanks to shooting better than 49 percent from the floor (32-of-65, .492) and almost 39 percent from beyond the arc (12-of-31, .387). The Bees, meanwhile, shot 44.3 percent from the field and less than 27 percent from 3-point range. St. Ambrose (1-2) was also outscored 12-5 from the line.

Facing a 50-36 halftime deficit, SAU was able to get as close as eight points after an Ignacio Dacunda three-point play trimmed the margin to 56-48 with just over 14 minutes remaining. 

That was the start of a big stretch from Dacunda. The senior guard scored 10 straight Bee points to keep the team close, with his last basket of the run getting St. Ambrose to within 65-55 with 10:17 to play.

But despite Dacunda scoring 21 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, the Bees were unable to get within single digits over the final 10 minutes.

Dacunda was 9-of-11 from the floor in the second half. He added seven rebounds and three assists to his 25 points.

Guillermo Narbona scored 17 points and pulled down a Bee-best nine rebounds. He handed out four assists. Solomon Garrison came off the bench to contribute 14 points.

Kieran Farrell scored seven, Alec Platipodis had six, Nolan Dietrich finished with three points and Collin Wainscott netted two.

SAU will have a week off before playing at Clarke next Wednesday.