DENVER - Despite a breakout performance from freshman Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), the University of Denver men's basketball team fell to Mid-Major No. 3 Iona 80-78 in overtime at Magness Arena on Wednesday night.

Olson's 20-point effort was a career-high for the freshman, as he went 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 from three-point range. Sophomore Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) added 18 points, five blocks, five rebounds and four assists for the Pioneers, while junior Chase Hallam's (Mesquite, Texas) 11-point effort combined with senior Brian Stafford's (Walnut Creek, Calif.) 10-point outing rounded out the double-figuring scoring for Denver.

"We played pretty well for the first 37 minutes, and then we made some miscues that Iona took advantage of," head coach Joe Scott said. "Give them credit. They didn't quit. They went small, and it helped their pressure. However, we're a good basketball team, and competition like tonight will make us better. It was a heartbreaker, but it was a great college basketball game."

The Pioneers (6-2) led by as many as 13 points in the second half, but Iona (7-1) ended regulation on a 7-0 run to send the game into overtime.

The Gaels struck first in the overtime period, scoring four straight and taking the early lead. Olson scored on a layup, and Udofia tied the game again with a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining. With just under 10 seconds to play, Iona's Randy Dezouvre hit the game-winner from the left elbow with two seconds left. Chase Hallam sent up a shot from half court, but it rimmed out.

A fast-paced first half saw a combined 40 points from both teams in the first 10 minutes played. The first 11 minutes of regulation saw three ties, but Denver pulled ahead to take a 43-32 lead into halftime, thanks in large part to an 11-0 run, including nine-straight points from Olson.

DU led 66-54 with 9:56 remaining in regulation, but the Gaels chipped away with a 15-6 run to cut it to a one-possession game at 70-67. A Chase Hallam jumper and Udofia dunk stretched the Denver lead back to seven, but a 7-0 run by Iona tied it to force overtime.

The Pioneers shot 59.2 percent (29-of-49) from the field, 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from three-point range and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line, but turned the ball over a season-high 20 turnovers. Iona was 30-of-58 (51.7 percent) from the field, 8-of-20 (40.0 percent) from three-point range and 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) from the free throw line, while turning the ball over 19 times.

Iona's Lamont Jones led all scorers with 21 points, and Scott Machado added 19 points and six assists. The Gaels, which led the nation with 22.6 assists per game, had a season-low 11 assists.

Denver next travels to Greeley, Colo., on Wednesday, Dec. 14 to take on in-state rival Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on Altitude, Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510 or FM 93.7, and via a live blog Cover It Live available at DenverPioneers.com.