INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team went blow for blow with one of the Horizon League's top teams on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 31) but ultimately fell short in an 86-77 loss inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Vincent Brady II and Bryce Monroe led four Jaguars in double-digits with 16 points apiece and John Egbuta chimed in with 14 points off the bench. 

Jayson Woodrich paced Cleveland State with 23 points, including four threes, and Tristan Enaruna closed with 18 points. 

"I thought we fought hard today," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "We really fought and that's a really good team. Your margin for error is really small against a good team like that and it came down to some close misses down the stretch. 

"I thought Jlynn's three was going in and if you tie it up there, maybe things are different. I'm proud of my guys and liked the way they responded."

IUPUI (5-10, 1-3 HL) led 73-71 with 4:05 to play after Jlynn Counter slashed through the CSU defense for a bucket, but the Vikings immediately tied the score on an Enaruna dunk. After an IUPUI turnover, the Jaguars forced a CSU miss, but Enaruna grabbed the offensive board and was fouled while making the putback. 

IUPUI crept back within one when DJ Jackson scored on a runner and the Jaguars got a defensive stand when Qwanzi Samuels was fouled grabbing the defensive board. However, Samuels missed the frontend of a 1-and-1 and CSU (10-5, 3-1 HL) retaliated with a Tevin Smith layup. 

Brady cut the lead back to one with a short bank shot before Enaruna responded with a tough jumper. Counter missed a potential game tying three with 40 seconds left and the Vikings made all six of their free throw attempts down the stretch to close with a nine-point win. 

IUPUI had recovered from a 12-point second half deficit, later taking the lead in the closing minutes. 

Cleveland State shot an efficient 53.3 percent from the floor and committing just five turnovers. IUPUI shot 48.4 percent overall turned it over 10 times, leading to CSU earning an 18-7 margin in points off turnovers.

Monroe piloted the IUPUI offense with a season-high six assists with just one turnover. Jackson closed with 10 points and Abdou Samb added six points. IUPUI won the glass 36-29 with Samuels and Kidtrell Blocker grabbing a team-high six apiece. 

Counter, who missed Friday's game due to illness, was limited to just six points, three rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes off the bench. 

Cleveland State scored the game's first six points, prompting a quick timeout before Monroe got the Jags off and running with a three. IUPUI finally pulled even at 13 all for the first of five ties on the day. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 4 when IUPUI takes on Robert Morris at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.