NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- In a game that featured nine ties and 11 lead changes, the Amherst College men's basketball team opened its season with a 67-64 victory over Albertus Magnus helped by a career-high15 points from sophomore Bobby Sommers. 

Next up for Amherst (1-0) is a date with Lynchburg as part of the Marymount University Tournament in Arlington, VA. That game is scheduled for Nov. 19th at 3 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The Mammoths trailed by 8 just 5 minutes and 38 seconds into the second half but rallied to build a lead as big as 7 over the next 12-plus minutes. A three-pointer from Sommers brought the Mammoths within two with 13:16 remaining in the game. Moments later first-year Giovanni Tam secured a defensive rebound and ran the floor, driving in for a lay-up that tied the game at 50. C.J. Mitchell drained a three that gave Amherst its first lead in 9:29 at 53-52. 

* Both teams traded buckets -- and the -- lead for four possessions, but Will Scherer regained the lead at 57-56 with 6:36 remaining. After a big block from Ryker Vance and a defensive rebound from Canin Reynolds on the Hawks' ensuing possession, Scherer came through again, grabbing a rebound of his own miss and putting it home for a 59-56 lead. A Vance rebound set up Reynolds for a fast-break lay-up and a five-point lead. 

* As time wound down, Vance made it a five-point Mammoth lead again with a jumper in the paint. Scherer then came up with another big bucket, throwing down a dunk that gave Amherst a seven-point lead, 65-58, with only 2:53 left. With only 48 seconds left, a jumper from Antonio Bonilla made it a one-point game 63-62, in favor of Amherst. Vance's two free throws with one second to go nailed down the Amherst win. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Sommers hit 5 of 6 shots from the floor, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc. Scherer finished with 7 points and a team-high 8 rebounds. Senior Michael Schretter and first-year Charlie Randall struck for 7 points each. Mitchell had 5 points and a team-leading 4 assists. 

* The Mammoths played 13 different players, outscoring ABM from the bench, 42-21. Amherst shot 53.85 percent from the floor in the second half while holding the Falcons to 40 percent.