Michigan
Nebraska
Late Nebraska Surge Dooms Michigan in B1G Defeat
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 6, 2015
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Scores: #10 Nebraska 23, #16 Michigan 10
Records: U-M (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten), NEB (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 8 -- at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team could not keep pace with No. 10 Nebraska at the upperweights, falling, 23-10, on Friday evening (Feb. 6) at Cliff Keen Arena. The Cornhuskers held a narrow three-point lead at the break but claimed four straight matches, including back-to-back upsets at 184 and 197 pounds, to seal the dual.
The Wolverines started the dual on a high note at 125 pounds, where junior/sophomore Conor Youtsey earned a controlling 4-0 decision over 10th-ranked Tim Lambert to avenge one of his earlier-season losses. Youtsey initiated several scrambles off single-leg attacks but could not finish on one until the waning seconds of the second period. He rode out the period and then the entirety of the third, accumulating 1:59 in time advantage.
Nebraska earned consecutive wins at 133 and 141 pounds, earning a bonus point in the former, before freshman Alec Pantaleo evened the score with an 11-1 major decision against Justin Arthur at 149 pounds. Pantaleo, ranked 13th, scored five takedowns -- three in the first period -- on a variety of shots, including a couple of early and explosive double legs. He accumulated his riding time after each one, ending the bout with 1:10 in time advantage.
Sophomore Brian Murphy, ranked 11th, lost a tough 4-2 decision against fourth-ranked James Green before the break at 157 pounds. Green built up his riding time in the second period and escaped quickly to preserve exactly a minute time advantage in the third. Forced to stay on the attack, Murphy drew a stall warning but gave up a takedown off his own single-leg attack in the closing seconds.
Freshman Garrett Sutton fell to Austin Wilson, 8-3, his varsity debut at 165 pounds as Nebraska maintained its momentum after the intermission. Wilson struck first on a first-period single leg, and although Sutton kept the pressure high, he could not finish on several single-leg attacks of his own, giving up a counter takedown in the second and another in the third.
Nebraska earned bonus points from top-ranked Robert Kokesh at 174 pounds before claiming back-to-back upsets at 184 and 197 pounds. Sophomore Domenic Abounader, ranked 10th, fell to 18th-ranked TJ Dudley, 10-7, in the former. Abounader could not finish on a pair of first-period attacks, giving up a takedown off a sloppy shot midway through the frame. After Dudley earned a reversal early in the second, Abounader again could not finish on another single shot late in the frame. He gave up another counter takedown in the third and finally finished on one of his own in the closing seconds, but it was too late to overcome the deficit.
Fifth-year senior Max Huntley, ranked eighth at 197 pounds, sacrificed an early lead in a 6-4 overtime decision to Aaron Studebaker. Huntley scored on single legs in the first and second periods but was ridden out in the third to force overtime. He was in a shot midway through the sudden-victory but could not finish before Studebaker did finish on a single leg to end the bout moments later.
Sophomore heavyweight Adam Coon, ranked seventh, closed the dual with a Wolverine win, scoring on a late takedown to defeat 17th-ranked Collin Jensen, 5-3, in the final match. After a scoreless first period, the wrestlers traded reversals in the second and the bout was tied late when Coon fended off a Jensen single leg, spinning behind to score the deciding takedown.
The Wolverines will wrap up the weekend on the road, heading to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face No. 22 Purdue at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 8) at Holloway Gymnasium. The dual will be streamed live via BTN Plus.
#10 Nebraska 23, #16 Michigan 10
Individual rankings from InterMat
| Match | Score |
| 125 -- Conor Youtsey (U-M) dec. #10 Tim Lambert, 4-0 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Eric Montoya (Neb) major dec. Zebulon Hilyard, 11-3 | Neb, 4-3 |
| 141 -- #8 Anthony Abidin (Neb) dec. George Fisher, 8-1 | PSU, 7-3 |
| 149 -- #13 Alec Pantaleo (U-M) major dec. Justin Arthur, 11-3 | Tied, 7-7 |
| 157 -- #4 James Green (Neb) dec. #11 Brian Murphy, 4-2 | Neb, 10-7 |
| 165 -- Austin Wilson (Neb) dec. Garrett Sutton, 8-3 | Neb, 13-7 |
| 174 -- #1 Robert Kokezh (Neb) major dec. Jake Salazar, 10-2 | Neb, 17-7 |
| 184 -- #18 TJ Dudley (Neb) dec. #10 Domenic Abounader, 10-7 | Neb, 20-7 |
| 197 -- Aaron Studebaker (Neb) dec. #8 Max Huntley, 6-4 SV | Neb, 23-7 |
| Hwt -- #7 Adam Coon (U-M) dec. #17 Collin Jensen, 5-3 | Neb, 23-10 |
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
