UMass vs. Harvard final score: Minutemen beat buzzer, Crimson in 67-64 victory

Junior forward Sampson Carter's 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining Tuesday propelled the UMass Minutemen to a 67-64 season-opening victory over the Harvard Crimson at the William D. Mullins Center.

Carter's lone basketball of the game came off a pass from point guard Chaz Williams, who penetrated to the basket with less than five seconds remaining and kicked it out to Carter standing alone in the left corner.

Harvard, which had no timeouts remaining, was forced to jack up a desperation shot at the buzzer that landed well short.

Williams finished with 12 points and a game-high 10 assists for UMass, which was paced by junior guard Jesse Morgan's 19 points.

Trailing 64-61 with 1:21 remaining, Morgan made consecutive baskets -- a jumper and then a 3-pointer -- to tie the contest, 64-64, with 39 seconds to go.

The Minutemen got a chance to win after Williams forced a turnover by Harvard's Christian Webster with 28 seconds to go

Sophomore Wesley Saunders netted a game-high 18 points for Harvard, which trailed by as much as 10 points in the first half. Saunders went 10-for-11 from the free throw line, while freshman guard Siyani Chambers added 14 points.

Junior forward Raphiael Putney tallied 13 points for UMass, which also got a nine-point, 13-rebound performance from Cady Lalane.

Harvard's next game will be played Friday against the Marshall Thundering Herd (7:30 p.m.), while UMass has 13 days off before it hosts the Providence Friars on Nov. 15 (7:30 p.m.).

UMass vs. Harvard halftime score: Minutemen lead by one at the half, 38-37

The UMass Minutemen led for the entire first half, but are only ahead by one after a last-second 3-pointer by Christian Webster of the Harvard Crimson cut their lead to 38-37 as the morning matchup headed to the half.

Harvard finished the half on a 14-5 run, punctuated by the team's first two threes of the half. The Crimson had struggled early, hitting just five of their first 20 field goal attempts, but chipped their way back by consistently beating UMass' full court press and taking 14 free throws.

First-team Atlantic 10 point guard Chaz Williams is looking the part for UMass, putting up eight points on seven shots while distributing five assists. Raphaiel Putney and Terrell Vinson also have eight, but Jesse Morgan leads the team with nine off the bench.

Siyani Chambers looked good in his second career game, topping the nine he registered in his debut with 12 first half points while adding four assists. While Chambers looks good replacing Brandyn Curry, the team's inside troubles without Kyle Casey were evident, as the team had shots blocked seven times.

UMass vs. Harvard: Minutemen host Crimson in ESPN Tip-Off Marathon

Chaz Williams and the UMass Minutemen tip off the new season by hosting the Harvard Crimson (1-0) in the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday.