Huskers Power Past #4 Ohio State, 25-16

Columbus, Ohio – Five-straight bout victories, including two bonus point wins, powered the Nebraska wrestling team (10-3, 6-1 Big Ten) past No. 4 Ohio State 25-16 on Friday night.
 
The Husker win marked four-straight conference victories as NU preps for two remaining home duals before post-season competition begins. 
 
In tonight’s top-ten matchup, action started at 125 pounds. No. 5 Liam Cronin used a takedown and an escape to defeat Ohio State’s (12-3, 6-2 Big Ten) No. 10 Malik Heinselman in a 3-1 decision. 
 
Up next, Kyle Burwick faced Ohio State’s No. 9 Jesse Mendez. Burwick scored a pair of takedowns and a few escapes, but it was not enough as Mendez won by major decision, 22-11. At 141, the match between No. 4 Brock Hardy and No. 20 Dylan D’Emilio went the distance. After Period 3, the match was tied 6-6 before Hardy tallied the late takedown in sudden victory to claim the 8-6 decision.
 
At 149, Dayne Morton battled, but No. 3 Sammy Sasso got the fall in Period 3. With the Huskers trailing 10-6 overall, No. 1 Peyton Robb wrestled No. 25 Paddy Gallagher at 157. Robb opened the match with a takedown but Gallagher quickly responded. The match was tied 4-4 with two minutes remaining before Robb scored a late escape to claim the 5-4 decision and stay undefeated. 
 
Bubba Wilson then wrestled Gavin Brown at 165. Bubba jumped out to the early 5-1 lead after two periods and kept the pressure to tally the 10-4 decision. At 174, No. 2 Mikey Labriola and No. 6 Ethan Smith faced off in another top-ten matchup. Smith scored first with a takedown, but Labriola responded with an escape and a takedown. After the pair each tallied an escape, they battled in Period 3 before Labriola scored the takedown at the buzzer. Labriola’s 6-4 decision pushed the Huskers in front of Ohio State, 15-10.
 
Up next, No. 15 Lenny Pinto worked quickly and tallied a pin in the first period, his second fall of the season. With the Huskers taking control 21-10, No. 10 Silas Allred kept the pressure against OSU’s Luke Geog. Allred used four takedowns to tally the second straight bonus-point victory for NU and seal the victory. At heavyweight, NU forfeited the match, but went on to defeat the Buckeyes, 25-16. 
 
Up next, the Huskers return home for a matchup with No. 23 Rutgers on Sunday, Feb. 10. Action is set to begin at 12 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+. 
 
#10 Nebraska 25, #4 Ohio State 16
125: #5 Liam Cronin (NEB) dec. #10 Malik Heinselman (OSU) 3-1 (NEB 3, OSU 0)
133: #9 Jesse Mendez (OSU) major dec. Kyle Burwick (NEB) 22-11 (OSU 4, NEB 3)
141: #5 Brock Hardy (NEB) dec. #20 Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) 8-6, SV-1 (NEB 6, OSU 4)
149: #3 Sammy Sasso (OSU) pinned Dayne Morton (NEB) (6:24) (OSU 10, NEB 6)
157: #1 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #25 Paddy Gallagher (OSU) 5-4 (OSU 10, NEB 9)
165: Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. Gavin Brown (OSU) 10-4 (NEB 12, OSU 10)
174: #2 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #6 Ethan Smith (OSU) 6-4 (NEB 15, OSU 10)
184: #15 Lenny Pinto (NEB) pinned Gavin Bell (OSU) (2:53) (NEB 21, OSU 10)
197: #10 Silas Allred (NEB) major dec. Luke Geog (OSU) 10-2 (NEB 25, OSU 10)
285: #18 Tate Orndorff (OSU) won by forfeit (NEB) (NEB 25, OSU 16)