DENVER -- Ronnie Harrell Jr. had 18 points and 13 rebounds in his Denver debut Tuesday night and the Pioneers opened the season with a 62-50 win, spoiling Richard Barron's coaching debut for Maine.

Denver took the lead for good at the beginning of a 12-0 run that ended at 50-39 on Joe Rosga's jumper with 7:20 left. Denver extended to 61-44 on Jake Krafka's 3-pointer with 2:44 left.

Harrell, a senior transfer from Creighton, made 3 of 8 from 3-point range and had a career-high four blocks. Jase Townsend added 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Maine erased a seven-point deficit with eight straight points to lead 26-25 late in the first half. From there, it went back-and-forth until Denver pulled away.

Andrew Fleming had 10 points and Vincent Eze had 10 boards for the Black Bears.

Barron takes over a program that went 24-100 in the past four seasons.