OT Win and Two One-Point Wins Push Missouri Past Kent State 19-15
12/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Seven matches were decided by three points or less as Missouri squeaked past Kent State 19-15 Sunday at the Hearnes Center. In the last four matches, the Tigers claimed a pair of one-point wins (174 & 184) and needed an overtime victory at heavyweight to hang on.
"We out-wrestled them, we were in better shape then them, but we had 3-4 guys that didn't wrestle their best today," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "This is the third time this season (Missouri, Iowa State, Virginia) that there were 3-4 matches that easily could have gone our way and didn't. And in each of those duals, someone pulled an upset on us."
The upset on Sunday came at 125 as junior Nic Bedelyon (125) fell to Alan Waters 3-1. While trying to break free from the bottom in the second, Bedelyon was caught on his back for two near fall points that made the difference in the match. Bedelyon (9-1) suffered his first loss of the year, while Waters, a freshman, improved to 19-0.
"Nic needed to do more in the first period," Andrassy said. "Waters slowed the match down. Nic hit a nice duck under at the end and we all thought he had the takedown, but he didn't get the points."
True freshman Tyler Small (133) evened the team score at 3-3 with an 8-6 upset over No. 17 Nathan McCormick. Small scored a four-point move in the opening period off a McCormick shot and never relinquished the lead.
"Tyler's done an incredible job this year," Andrassy said. "He's beatean three ranked opponents now and he just knows how to win. He goes 100 percent for seven minutes."
Todd Schavrien gave the Tigers the lead back with a 12-0 major decision over junior Chase Skonieczny (141), before the Flashes claimed back-to-wins at 149 and 157. Junior Marcel Clopton broke a third period 1-1 tie with a takedown and added riding time in a 4-1 win over Brandon Wiest. Senior Matt Cathell scored a takedown and a three-point near fall in the second period on the way to a 6-0 win over Dan Gonsor.
"Marcel dictated the pace and when he does that, he's hard to beat," Andrassy said.
Cathell's win gave Kent State a 9-7 lead before No. 12 Zach Toal edged junior Ross Tice (165) 7-4. Tice jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period, but Toal came back in a hurry and outscored Tice 3-0 in the third period.
At 174, riding time made the difference in freshman Brandonn Johnson's 5-4 loss to Dorian Henderson as Missouri extended its lead to 13-9.
"Ross and Brandonn both had leads, but didn't wrestle very smart once they had a lead."
The Tigers then claimed another nail-biter as Mike Larson topped sophomore Casey Newburg 4-3 at 184. Larson beat the second-period buzzer with an escape and scored a third-period takedown at the edge of the mat.
"Casey had it and gave it away," Andrassy said. "He and Brandonn are younger guys in the lineup that still need to learn how to win close matches."
Junior Dustin Kilgore gave the Flashes new life, pinning Jake Glore 35 seconds into the second period. Kilgore led 9-0 before putting Glore in his patented cradle. The No. 1 ranked wrestler at 197 extended his dual meet winning streak to 36 matches and brought KSU within a point at 16-15.
Junior Brendan Barlow (285) took No. 6 Dom Bradley into overtime, before falling 5-3 in the final seconds of sudden victory. Trailing 3-1 after two periods, Barlow scored an escape and got in deep on a shot when Bradley when was hit with a penalty point for fleeing the mat.
The Golden Flashes (2-4) visit No. 18 Pittsburgh on Sunday, Dec. 12 in the Steel City.
