DENVER - University of Denver sophomore guard Cam Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) recorded his first career double-double with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting and 10 rebounds, as the Pioneers defeated Ohio 61-57 on Tuesday evening in a tight contest in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament at Magness Arena.

The win was DU's first-ever in the postseason, and the Pioneers (22-9) advance to take on Maryland in the NIT Second Round in College Park, Md., on Thursday at 5 p.m. MT.

Sophomore Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had 15 points and three steals, 10 of which came in the second half, and junior Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, and blocked three shots, including one with a one-point lead with 21 seconds remaining. Sophomore Royce O'Neale (Killeen, Texas) tallied eight points and a career-high four blocks.

"I thought it was a very good college basketball game, a great postseason game with two good teams," head coach Joe Scott said. "Ohio has such a veteran team, which is something I kept stressing to our guys. We tried to use that as a positive for us, instead of shying away from it. We told our guys, they have been here and done it, we need that experience they have. We were in a fight with them all night, and I thought our guys responded really well."

The Pioneers finished the contest shooting 53.7 percent (22-of-41) from the field, but only hit a season-low 2-of-10 (20.0 percent) from three-point range and 15-of-29 (51.7 percent) from the free throw line. Ohio (24-10) shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the floor and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from three-point range. DU also had a season-high 10 blocked shots, as well as grabbing 10 steals.

After trailing 32-30 at halftime, the Pioneers reclaimed the lead at 35-34 early in the second half before Ohio scored eight unanswered to take its largest lead at 42-35 with 14:40 to go. Denver used a 10-2 run to take a 49-48 lead with 9:30 left to play and stretched the edge to 57-52 with 3:55 remaining, but Ohio cut it to one at 58-57 with 1:02 left. D.J. Cooper had a chance to give the Bobcats the lead with 21 seconds to go, but Udofia blocked his layup attempt, and O'Neale sealed the four-point win with a dunk right before the buzzer.

Cooper topped Ohio with 16 points, while Reggie Kelly tallied 12 points and Ivo Baltic led all players with 15 rebounds.

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU's Division I athletic programs.

- EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS -

Like Denver Athletics and Denver Men's Basketball on Facebook

Follow @DU_Athletics and @DU_MHoops on twitter