VIDEO: Highlights

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cleveland State rallied from a 20-point second half deficit to make it a one possession game late, but IUPUI held on to defeat the Vikings, 78-73, on Thursday night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Stefan Kenic led three players in double figures with a career-high 16 points with three rebounds. Tyree Appleby scored 15 points and Kenny Carpenter finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. Anthony Wright, who missed the last seven games with injury, returned to action tonight and scored eight points.

Kenic scored five quick points to help the Vikings take an early 10-4 lead, but the Jaguars scored nine straight points to take a 13-10 lead at the 12:38 mark. IUPUI would lead by as many as 12 points late in the half before an Evan Clayborne dunk just before the final buzzer sliced the CSU deficit to 35-25 at halftime.

IUPUI's lead would reach 20 points (60-40) with just over 12 minutes to play, but the Vikings began to rally as Appleby hit a three-pointer and Kenic made two free throws to cut the lead down to 15 points. The Vikings pulled within 10 points on a Carpenter layup with just over eight minutes left.

The Jaguar lead was still 10 points with just under six minutes to play, but Wright hit a three-pointer and Carpenter to slice the deficit down to five points (69-64) with 4:37 left.

A layup from Appleby with 25 seconds to play brought the Vikings within two points (73-71), but CSU was whistled for a questionable flagarant foul on the ensuing possession, leading to the Jaguars hitting three of four free throws to open up a 76-71 lead with 18 seconds left.

Carpenter hit two free throws on the other end to make it a one possession game again, but the Jaguars answered with two free throws - finishing 23-of-35 at the charity stripe for the night - on the other end after a quick CSU foul for the final margin.

The Vikings conclude their road swing on Saturday (Feb. 10) with an 8:00 pm ET game at UIC.