AMHERST, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Sixth-ranked Connecticut probably wishes it had stayed home.

Rashaun Freeman's layup with 4.3 seconds remaining lifted Massachusetts to a 61-59 upset of the previously unbeaten Huskies at the Mullins Center.

Freeman had 18 points and eight rebounds to help Massachusetts end a 13-game losing streak against Connecticut and post its first victory against a ranked opponent since upsetting Saint Joseph's on March 9, 2001.

"They're (Connecticut) a great team and tonight was our night," Minutemen coach Steve Lappas said.

After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, Connecticut (4-1) stormed back. Rudy Gay and Denham Brown each scored five points as the Huskies closed out the first half with a 14-4 run to cut the deficit to 31-29 at intermission.

Connecticut's Charlie Villanueva hit a pair of free throws with 4:53 remaining in the second half to increase the Huskies' lead, 55-50, but the Minutemen responded with a 9-0 run.

Freeman hit layups on consecutive possessions and Jeff Viggiano added a 3-pointer before hitting a layup to give the Minutemen a 59-55 edge with 55 seconds remaining.

Josh Boone and Gay each sank a pair of free throws to tie the game, but Freeman's decisive layup sent the crowd of 9,037 into a frenzy.

Freeman, a sophomore center, shot 8-of-16 from the floor as the Minutemen (3-2) dominated inside, outscoring the Huskies in the paint, 42-24.

"This team is going to be a very good team," Lappas said. "We start four sophomores and a senior. We will see how they handle success."

Massachusetts had 39 rebounds to match Connecticut, which was outrebounding opponents by an average of 25.

"I don't think we played that well," Lappas said. "But we played great defensively and great on the glass, and that gave us a chance. It was a gutsy win."

Viggiano scored 12 points off the bench and Stephane Lasme added nine and a pair of blocks for the Minutemen.

Gay scored 13 points but shot just 4-of-13 for Connecticut, which shot just 32 percent (18-of-57) from the floor while losing against Massachusetts for the first time since December 15, 1983.

Boone had 12 points and nine boards and Brown added 11 and seven for the Huskies, who opened the season with four straight wins at home before suffering its first loss of the season on the road.