Top Five Mizzou Tops OU, 18-12

Feb. 6, 2009

Missouri 18, Oklahoma 12 | Photo Gallery

QUICK STATS
No. 14 Oklahoma	Statistic	No. 5 Missouri
0	Pins	0
8	Takedowns	13
19	Escapes	14
0	Near falls	0
12	Final	18

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NORMAN, Okla. -- For the second straight match against a top 10 opponent, the 14th-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling squad led after the initial five bouts. Friday evening, No. 5 Missouri answered OU's quick start and reeled off three straight wins of its own to claim a Big 12 victory at the McCasland Field House in Norman, 18-15.

Earlier this season, the Sooners (15-2, 1-2) led No. 2 Iowa State deep into the match before surrendering the lead.

"We have lost to the No. 2 and No. 5 ranked teams in the country in squeakers," head coach Jack Spates said. "The losses do not shake our confidence, but only bolster it."

Joey Fio, ranked seventh, put the Sooners on the board first with an 8-4 win over Troy Dolan at 125 pounds. The victory gave the sophomore from Sandpoint, Idaho, his 10th consecutive of the season and a 16-3 overall record.

Brian Shelton made it a 6-0 Sooner lead with a 5-3 decision over Todd Schavrien at 133 pounds. Seth Vernon then fell to 10th-ranked Marcus Hoehn at 141 pounds, 8-2, to put the Tigers on the board.

Owner of a 20-match win streak, 149-pound Kyle Terry defeated Andrew Sherry by an 8-3 decision, putting OU on top, 9-3. The Midwest City, Okla., native now owns a team-best 22-1 record this season.

The tide then turned at 157 pounds when No. 8 Michael Chandler began a Tiger streak, besting OU's senior Will Rowe by a 6-2 final.

Fifth-ranked Nicholas Marable then edged Sooner Ryan Smith, 3-2, and No. 5 Raymond Jordan topped seventh-ranked Jeff James, 6-4, to give Missouri its first lead of the night, 12-9. James' loss marked his first since Nov. 13, ending his 18-match win streak.

Pat Flynn kept the hopes alive for Oklahoma at 184 pounds, defeating Dorian Henderson, 2-0, to tie the team score at 12. Flynn racked up 1:58 of riding time in the battle to improve his season record to 22-3.

Eric Lapotsky was unable to record a win at 197 pounds, dropping an 11-4 battle to No. 4 Max Askren, so it was up to No. 16th-ranked Nathan Fernandez to once again erase a Mizzou lead.

Trailing 15-12, Fernandez was forced to defeat No. 1 nationally-ranked Mark Ellis in the heavyweight bout to give OU at least a tie. Behind 4-2 to begin the third period, the Sooner redshirt sophomore was only able to post an escape after choosing the down position to fall 5-3 after an Ellis riding time point.

"We knew tonight was going to be a battle, Missouri is a tough team," Spates said. "Our guys wrestled tough tonight and my coaching staff still has tremendous confidence in our team."

The Sooners will look to get back on track against another top-five opponent when No. 4 Nebraska visits Norman this Sunday, Feb. 8. Wrestling is set to begin at 2 p.m., inside the Howard McCasland Field House.

MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS

125: No. 7 Joey Fio (OU) dec. Troy Dolan (MU), 8-4
133: Brian Shelton (OU) dec. Taylor Schavrien (MU), 5-3
141: No. 10 Marcus Hoehn (MU) dec. Seth Vernon (OU), 8-2
149: No. 8 Kyle Terry (OU) dec. Andrew Sherry (MU), 8-3
157: No. 8 Michael Chandler (MU) dec. Will Rowe (OU), 6-2
165: No. 5 Nicholas Marable (MU) dec. Ryan Smith (OU), 3-2
174: No. 5 Raymond Jordan (MU) dec. No. 7 Jeff James (OU), 6-4
184: No. 19 Pat Flynn (OU) dec. Dorian Henderson (MU), 2-0
197: No. 4 Max Askren (MU) dec. No. 11 Eric Lapotsky (OU), 11-4
HWT: No. 1 Mark Ellis (MU) dec. No. 16 Nathan Fernandez (OU), 5-3

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