INDIANAPOLIS - Junior John Egbuta scored a season-high 15 points off the IUPUI bench on Saturday (Jan. 14) but the Jaguars were outslugged by visiting Cleveland State, 89-54. Graduate transfer Chris Osten added 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting to join him in double-figures. 

"(Cleveland State) hit us in the mouth and we never fully responded," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "It's tough because we played Thursday night and this was their first game of the weekend, so they came out more aggressive and fresher.

"They came out quick, made plays and got us on the ropes. I liked our response in the first half, but that stretch at the end of the first half really hurt us."

Tristan Enaruna led Cleveland State (10-8, 5-2 HL) with 18 points and Tae Williams hit 8-of-9 shots to close with 16 points. CSU shot nearly 56 percent from the field and 10-of-20 (50 percent) from three-point range and bullied the Jaguars on the glass to a 35-29 advantage. 

However, it was IUPUI's (3-16, 0-8 HL) 19 turnovers that led to long dry spells and allowed the Vikings to run away. CSU scored the game's opening 10 points before Osten finally got the Jaguars on the board at the 17:32 mark. The lead ballooned to 16-2 before IUPUI began chipping away, ultimately closing the gap to 27-23 on a Jlynn Counter layup with 2:46 left in the first half. 

CSU closed the opening half with a 9-0 run to build a 36-23 halftime advantage as the Jags missed their final four shots of the opening stanza. Things went from bleak to dire at the start of the second half as the Vikings scored the first 14 points of the second half to blow things open. 

Armon Jarrard stopped the run with a wing three to end a nearly seven minute scoring drought. 

Freshman DJ Jackson matched his season-high with nine points and Jarrard finished with seven. Counter contributed six points and six assists in the loss. 

IUPUI will continue its four-game homestand on Thursday night (Jan. 19) when they host Oakland University at 7:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. That will be Favorite Professor Night as the department honors selected faculty and staff from across campus, as chosen by IUPUI student-athletes. Fans can purchase tickets through the Coliseum box office or by clicking here.