DAVENPORT - Not bad for a team picked to finish last.

Dondre Osborne scored 20 points and Kyle Lamaak made 9-of-10 from the floor to finish with 19 points as Mount Mercy once again took control down the stretch, downing St. Ambrose, 88-79, at Lee Loman Arena.

The victory assured the Mustangs (23-4, 10-1) of their first Midwest Collegiate Conference title since 1996. Mount Mercy was picked to finish at the bottom of the standings before the season.

Time and time again, the Mustangs have found ways to win. The Bees took a 48-42 lead with about 12 minutes remaining only to see Mount Mercy go on a 12-0 run, capped by a conventional 3-point play from Laamak.

The Mustangs then hit enough free throws in the final minutes to secure the victory.

Nick Frazier's 18 points led five players in double figures for the Bees St. Ambrose (15-14, 6-5)

MOUNT MERCY (88): Houston 4 3-5 11, Osborne 3 12-20 20, Matos 3 4-4 10, Misener 2 2-2 7, Struss 3 2-2 9, Boonstoppel 3 4-4 12, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Price-Majors 0 0-0 0, Lamaak 9 1-1 19. Totals: 27 28-38 88.

ST. AMBROSE (79): Beene 5 1-4 14, Frazier 7 4-5 18, White 6 0-0 12, Ainsworth 5 2-2 12, Knoll 1 0-0 2, Hetherton 0 0-0 0, McLane 5 2-2 14, Kohnle 1 0-0 3, Buls 0 0-0 0, Wagner 2 0-0 4, Trost 0 0-0 0. Totals: 32 9-15 79.

Halftime: Mount Mercy 37, St. Ambrose 37, 3-point goals: Mount Mercy 6 (Osborne 2, Boonstoppel 2, Misener, Struss). St. Ambrose 6 (Beene 3, McLane 2, Kohnle)