INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis men's basketball team will open a three-game homestand on Saturday (Feb. 7) when the Jaguars host Cleveland State at 2:00 p.m. inside the Jungle. It marks the Jaguars first game since last Friday's contest at Youngstown State while Cleveland State (10-14, 6-7 HL) comes in riding a league-best five-game winning streak. CSU won the prior meeting between the two schools, 99-86, back on Dec. 29. 

IU Indy (6-18, 2-11 HL) comes in having dropped two straight, but will finish the regular season with five of their final seven home games inside the Jungle. The week off came at an opportune time as the Jags were short-handed on last week's road trip to Robert Morris and Youngstown State, playing without top scorer Kyler D'Augustino for both games. In his absence, senior Jaxon Edwards had a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double at YSU and fifth-year senior Matt Compas added 15 points off the bench. Senior Finley Woodward added eight points, 10 assists and five rebounds in the loss at YSU. 

D'Augustino leads the Horizon League in scoring 21.2 points per game in league games. Edwards checks in at 13.4 points per game in Horizon League play while also leading the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg), steals (17) and blocked shots (10) against league foes. 

On Saturday, the Athletics Department will welcome back more than 30 men's basketball alumni for Saturday's game and will recognize the group at halftime. 

QUOTABLE
"Tough one tonight. I thought our press really bothered them in the first half and we were able to get out in transition and score some easy ones. We weren't as disruptive in the second half and they were able to beat our press and get some good looks against us. We're continuing to get better and we're close to really breaking through. I'm proud of our guys. It'll be good to get home and play some home games," head coach Ben Howlett said following the loss at Youngstown State. 
 
SCOUTING CSU
CSU is 10-14 overall and 6-7 in Horizon League play, but has won five straight games entering Saturday's contest. The Vikings are 3-9 on the road this season with all three road victories coming during the recent five-game winning streak. For the season, Cleveland State enters play shooting nearly 39 percent from three-point range and making 11 triples per game. Below is a look at the Vikings' possible starting five. 
    G Jaidon Lipscomb (6-5, Sr.) - 11.5 ppg, 42.7 3FG%
    G Tre Beard (5-10, Sr.) - 14.3 ppg, 3.4 apg
    F Preist Ryan (6-6, Jr.) - 6.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
    F Dayan Nessah (6-7, Soph.) - 15.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 54.3 FG%
    F Holden Pierre-Louis (6-8, Soph.) - 3.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg

INSIDE THE SERIES
IU Indy is just 4-15 all-time against Cleveland State and lost the last 14 meetings in the series. The Jaguars are just 3-6 in nine meetings in Indy. 

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will continue the homestand against Milwaukee on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. inside the Jungle.