
IU Indianapolis welcomed Horizon League leader and potential postseason contender Cleveland State to campus on Sunday, and despite the odds, were hoping to knock off the Vikings and break one of the longest losing streaks in the league, many of which belong to the Jaguars. That being said, despite their best efforts and a first half lead, the Jaguars would ultimately fall short, 73-62 and let Cleveland State earn their 10th straight victory.
Compared to previous seasons, the Jaguars have mostly been competitive, but remain unable to defeat the top programs in the Horizon League, once again losing to the Vikings for the 13th straight time. Barring a certain school, IU Indy’s records against the Horizon League opposition have been dismal, even amassing a losing record against newcomer Robert Morris.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying.
The Vikings opened the first couple of minutes strong, before the Jaguars evened things up with a pair of Alec Millender free throws, which was followed up with a Paul Zilinskas three. A Ron Rutland III three pointer and a DeSean Goode strike from beyond allowed the home team to pull ahead to 19-11 and gave the Jags control for much of the first half, before the Vikings regained momentum with KJ Debrick coming off Cleveland State’s bench and firing up their offense. Zilinskas and Sean Craig hit 3-pointers to get Indy ahead before the half, at 33-31.
Upon the start of the second half, IU Indy would extend their lead to seven points, but that was as far as things would get. Keenan Garner had a rather forgettable showing that night, missing two free throws and turning the ball over four times, which gave Cleveland State the opportunities needed to take control of the game. As soon as the Vikings took the lead, they ran away with the score and never looked back.
The Vikings were very dismal with long range shooting, having only made 5 out of 22 attempts, but I think it highlights a discrepancy between good programs and, well, programs that never get media attention. Cleveland State did not need to be so reliant on shooting three pointers thanks to how effective they were at getting close to the paint, which IU Indy seemed to struggle with. Conversely, IU Indianapolis must rely so much on the three to keep games close thanks to the gap in talent (I keep saying, as that lone interview that I will likely never post with Paul Corsaro more and more will probably become the only time I ever interview Corsaro). It’s a frustrating visual, knowing that to stay competitive, you must take chances.
As far as scoring efforts, say it with me, boys and girls; Paul Zilinskas led the team with 13 points, followed by Sean Craig with 12. In a rare instance for the team, every player who dressed up made a basket, with Ron Rutland III hitting his lone attempt at the hoop for three, as previously mentioned. But that’s not much of a consolation when you yet again are on the losing end.
On the plus side, despite the unappealing aesthetic, moving back to the Jungle at least seems to help with crowds and atmosphere compared to the Fairgrounds. It’s far better to have 800 fans in a 1K seat gym versus a 6K seat arena, not to mention its easier to get in and out of the university. I honestly believe the change in venue has helped a bit in keeping the team motivated even if the amenities aren’t as good for fans and players alike.
Fortunately, IU Indy gets to play the one school that is historically on the same level as they are in terms of success (or lack thereof) this Wednesday, as they travel to Green Bay to play Doug Gottlieb and his foundering Phoenix. Despite everything, ESPN still lists IU Indianapolis as underdogs because we are apparently worse than a two-win program that lost to a Division II team at home. Meanwhile, Fox Sports, which is Doug’s home turf as he multitasks between running an unsuccessful basketball program and a radio talk show doesn’t have odds yet, but I expect they’ll favor Green Bay all the same if you’re a degenerate gambler who absolutely must parlay.

The Doug Gottlieb Experience in 2025, Colorized
This may likely be the Jaguars’ last chance at a win for the rest of the season, and with a win, they’ll finally have a winning record against a Horizon League opponent. Could be our highlight of the year.