MACON, Ga. – University of Denver senior Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) scored a game-high 21 points and broke DU’s career blocked shot record, but the Pioneers were edged 64-63 in overtime against Mercer at Hawkins Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Junior guard Cam Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) added 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Pioneers (2-5), and junior Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) chipped in 10 points.

“I recognized that team out there. We played our tails off and made good plays against a good team,” head coach Joe Scott said. “This team has to learn from this so we get better at finishing good performances on the road, which is what today was against a good mid-major program. It was a very good college basketball game. It would have been nice to learn from a road win instead of a heartbreaking loss.”

With 2:50 remaining in overtime, Udofia converted a three-point play to tie the game, and Olson hit a pull-up jumper to take the lead. After Langston Hughes tied the game again, sophomore Jalen Love (Wichita, Kan.) hit a three-pointer with 1:14 left on the clock.

However, Hughes hit another jump shot to cut the Denver lead to one. When Denver failed to convert, Jakob Gollon grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with nine seconds left, and DU’s final attempt was just off the mark.

The Bears (6-4) outrebounded Denver 42-27, including 11 on the offensive glass, and scored 14 second chance points. Both teams struggled at the free throw line, as DU was 12-for-23 (52.2 percent) and Mercer was 10-for-17 (58.8 percent).

The first half was a defensive battle, as neither team led by more than five points. The Pioneers shot 36.0 percent (9-of-25) from the field, while Mercer made 40.9 percent (9-of-22), and DU took a 24-22 edge into halftime.

Mercer came out of the break by hitting its first six shots to take a two-point lead with 16:01 left in the game, and the Bears held the lead until Griffin drove the lane for a layup with 1:31 on the clock. After Daniel Coursey got an offensive rebound and a follow dunk, Udofia hit a free throw to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Denver remains on the road for a game at Colorado State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on ROOT Sports.

Individual home game tickets for men's basketball are on sale now with prices starting at $9 for adults. Single-game tickets can be purchased in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office, by phone at 303-871-2336 or online at DenverPioneers.com/tickets. DU students are admitted to all Denver men's basketball games FREE with their Pioneer Card.

Group tickets are available for parties of 20 or more for a reduced price. Men's basketball lower bowl group tickets are $7. For more questions or to place a group ticket order, contact Adam Sizemore at adam.sizemore@du.edu or (303) 871-HOOP.

Season tickets for the 2013-14 Denver men’s basketball season are currently on sale with ticket packages start at just $77. For ticket information, please visit DenverPioneers.com or call the Pioneer Basketball Ticket Hotline at (303) 871-HOOP. DU continues its commitment to provide the community with the most affordable and exciting entertainment in the Denver metro area.

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU's NCAA Division I sports.

—  www.DenverPioneers.com  —

Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Men's Basketball on Facebook

Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MHoops on Twitter