Saunders hits go-ahead shot; Harvard beats Columbia 72-68

Feb 13, 2015, 09:03 pm

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Wesley Saunders hit a go-ahead shot with 2.9 seconds left to lift Harvard over Columbia 72-68 on Friday night.

Jonah Travis gave Harvard a 68-62 lead with 3:46 left. Later, Columbia's Maodo Lo and Jeff Coby hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie it at 68 with eight seconds left.

Saunders finished with 18 points, 16 coming in the first half, for Harvard (17-5, 7-1 Ivy League). Siyani Chambers had 16 and Steve Moundou-Missi 14.

Harvard led by as many as 19 points in the first half and held a 48-31 advantage at the break.

Lo scored 22 points for Columbia (11-11, 3-5) on 8-of-16 shooting. Kyle Castlin had 13 and Cory Osetkowski 11. The Lions scored the opening basket of the game but never led again.

Columbia went on an 11-0 run, with six points by Lo, to cut its deficit to 49-45 early in the second half.