Nebraska Claims 18-15 Victory over Oklahoma

Lincoln ? The Nebraska wrestling team spotted Oklahoma a 15-3 lead headed into intermission, but the fourth-ranked Huskers claimed the final five matches of the night to earn an 18-15 dual win over No. 14 Oklahoma in Norman on Sunday. NU stayed perfect in Big 12 action with a 3-0 mark and 15-2-1 overall, while the Sooners fell to 1-3 in the conference and 15-3 overall.

 

Redshirt freshman Tucker Lane started the dual with a win for the Huskers, defeating Nathan Fernandez, 3-1, at heavyweight. Lane, ranked No. 19 in the nation, exchanged escapes with No. 16 Fernandez, before earning the winning takedown with 38 seconds left in the match. OU captured the next four matches from 125 to 149, including a major decision and a tech fall, to take a 15-3 lead headed into the intermission.

 

It was all Nebraska after the break, though, as Jordan Burroughs started the comeback at 157 pounds against Chad Terry. Burroughs was held scoreless through the first period and the majority of the second before earning his first takedown with under a minute left in the period. He added three more takedowns in the final period to pull away, 9-4, and now stands six takedowns short of breaking the dual takedown record (98) he set last season.

 

Stephen Dwyer posted a 4-0 decision over Ryan Smith at 165, by riding the Sooner out in the second period. Dwyer notched a quick escape in the final period and earned the only takedown of the match with 37 seconds left.

 

In the only matchup with two top-10 wrestlers, third-ranked Brandon Browne used a reversal in the second period to score the first points in his match with No. 7 Jeff James. The Sooner escaped so start the third to tie the match at two, but Browne posted two third-period takedowns to take the 6-3 win.

 

Vince Jones tied the dual at 15 with his 3-0 decision over No. 19 Pat Flynn at 184 pounds. For the second time in the past three duals, Jones rode his opponent the entire second period. An early reversal in the third period clinched the bout for Jones.

 

After winning the Missouri dual on Jan. 31 for NU with a decision, Craig Brester accomplished the feat again, this time topping No. 11 Eric Lapotsky with a 5-2 decision to give NU the 18-15 victory. Brester ended the first period with a late takedown and escaped in the second, but Lapotsky notched a quick escape of his own in the third to cut the lead to 3-1. Brester posted the winning takedown with 1:39 left to rebound from his loss last Thursday.

 

Nebraska continues with two road duals next Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Huskers face UNC Greensboro at 6:30 p.m. CT and square off with North Carolina at 8 p.m. CT. Huskers.com will provide a full preview of the duals on Thursday.

 

No. 4 Nebraska 18, No. 14 Oklahoma 15

McCasland Field House, Norman, Okla.

Sunday, Feb. 8

 

Match Results

285 - #19 Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over #16 Nathan Fernandez (OU), 3-1

125 - #7 Joey Fio (OU) by major dec. over Andy Pokorny (NU), 17-4

133 - Brian Shelton (OU) by dec. over Matt Vacanti (NU), 8-1

141 - Seth Vernon (OU) by dec. Patrick Aleksanyan (NU), 6-3

149 - #8 Kyle Terry (OU) by tech. fall over Curtis Salazar (NU), 21-6

157 - #3 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by dec. over Chad Terry (OU), 9-4

165 - #6 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over Ryan Smith (OU), 4-0

174 - #3 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over #7 Jeff James (OU), 6-3

184 - #11 Vince Jones (NU) by dec. over #19 Pat Flynn (OU), 3-0

197 - #2 Craig Brester (NU) by dec. over #11 Eric Laptosky (OU), 5-2