CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Wesley Saunders scored 11 points and Jonah Travis added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench to help Harvard beat Massachusetts Institute of Technology 69-54 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Saunders scored eight points in the first half to help Harvard take a 31-26 lead into halftime.

Harvard extended its lead as MIT shot 34.6 percent (9 of 26) in the second half and missed all five of its 3-point shots.

Kenyatta Smith led Harvard's defense with five blocks. Travis added three blocks.

Travis also led the Crimson with 10 points in the second half, connecting on four of his five shots.

MIT cut the lead to 39-33 early in the second half but that was the closest the Engineers would get.

Mitchell Kates led MIT with 20 points. Will Tashman added 15 points and nine rebounds.