Syracuse, NY -- (Sports Network) - Donte Greene exploded for a career-high 27 points to lead the top-seeded Syracuse Orange to an 87-81 victory over the eighth-seeded Robert Morris Colonials in the first round of the NIT.

Paul Harris racked up 19 points and 10 rebounds for Syracuse (20-13), which will take on fifth-seeded Maryland in the second round. Scoop Jardine added 15 points for the Orange, who got 14 points from Jonny Flynn. An impressive freshman point guard, Flynn played only 14 minutes because of injury.

A.J. Jackson scored 19 points in the loss for Robert Morris (26-8). Jeremy Chappell and Jimmy Langhurst both had 15 points for the Colonials, while Northeast Conference Player of the Year Tony Lee contributed 10 points.

Syracuse shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half and hit all nine of its free throws en route to a 44-40 lead at intermission.

Over the final 20 minutes, the Orange once again connected on 50 percent of their field goal attempts, overshadowing a shaky 14-of-26 effort from the foul line in the second half.

A 40-29 rebounding advantage and 21 forced turnovers were key to the victory for the Orange.

Syracuse also got 13 points from Kristof Ongenaet, and head coach Jim Boeheim earned his 30th 20-win season, tying the record set by the legendary Dean Smith.