CLEVELAND – In the final game of the 2023-24 regular season, the IUPUI men's basketball team shot 50 percent from the floor and made 16-of-17 free throws but was unable to keep up with Cleveland State, falling 75-66 Saturday (Mar. 2) night.

The Jaguars were balanced and efficient offensively, with six players scoring eight or more points, led by Jlynn Counter with 15. Abdou Samb tallied 12 on 6-of-7 shooting while adding two blocks.

The Vikings looked to get inside the paint from the tip, registering 40 points from in close, paired with 21 points from the charity stripe that created a sizable discrepancy. The hosts also capitalized on the 17 Jaguar turnovers, recording 20 points off turnovers, compared to just 10 for the Jags.

IUPUI's (6-25, 2-18 HL) Samb and Cleveland State's (18-13, 11-9 HL) Dylan Arnett tallied the game's first eight points (four each) before the hosts went on a 10-0 run capped by a Tristan Enaruna three pointer to force head coach Matt Crenshaw to call an early timeout.

The Jags scored the first six points out of the timeout, with Qwanzi Samuels collecting four to cut the deficit to four. The game of runs continued, as the Vikings earned its second double-digit advantage of the contest after notching seven straight points.

After trading baskets for the next few minutes of play, a Tevin Smith three gave Cleveland State its largest lead at 12 points, 26-14. IUPUI, however, continued to attack the basket and get to the free throw line where the team knocked down 6-of-7 in the first 15 minutes.

An Yves Nkomba layup cut the deficit to seven before back-to-back Jaguar turnovers led to five quick points for the Vikings that forced a second first-half timeout by Crenshaw. The team again responded out of the break, scoring on three straight offensive possessions. Both teams cooled off in the final two minutes of play, leading to a 37-29 score at the half.

Like the first half, the opening minutes of the second were dominated by Arnett and Samb, who both had powerful slams. After a Counter pull-up jumper from just inside the three-point line cut the Cleveland State advantage to five, the hosts rattled off six straight to regain a double-digit advantage.

A Bryce Monroe layup at the 13:00 minute mark ended a four-plus minute scoring drought from the field. The next time down the floor he found Vincent Brady in the corner for the team's second triple of the contest. The Vikings, however, continued to counter, making it difficult for the Jags to chip away at the advantage.

Back-to-back fast break baskets by Tae Williams gave Cleveland State a 15-point lead—its largest of the game. IUPUI picked up the intensity on the defensive end, forcing three straight turnovers that led to two layups and a trip to the free throw line. DJ Jackson converted both attempts out of the under-eight media timeout to cut the deficit to single digits with just over seven minutes remaining.

Blocker and Jackson scored on two straight offensive possessions to make it a six-point game with just under six minutes left on the clock, but the Vikings again bounced back, going on a 5-0 run. Jackson ended the run with a pull-up jumper before the media timeout. Following the break, a difficult floater from the baseline by Counter made it a seven-point contest. The sophomore forced a turnover and drew a foul just seconds later and his two free throws cut the Viking advantage to five with just over two and a half minutes left.

Cleveland State held IUPUI to just two points in the final 2:32 to hold onto its lead and secure the victory. Enaruna led the Vikings, scoring a game-high 20 points for the eleventh straight contest. Arnett and Williams added 14 apiece, while Smith registered 12 to round out the double-digit scorers.

The two teams will clash again on Tuesday in Cleveland in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with tip-off set for 7 p.m.