Wisconsin Edges Hoosiers, 20-15

Friday, January 25

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

Wisconsin

1/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

Brandon Becker topped the second-ranked wrestler in the country while Angel Escobedo moved his season record to a perfect 19-0 during Friday night's match against No. 13 Wisconsin (10-2-1, 1-1). No. 17 Indiana (11-3, 0-1) split the win total, taking five of the individual bouts, but fell in the total team score, 20-15.

Complete Match Results

The match began with No. 9 Becker taking on Craig Henning in the 157-pound contest. Henning entered the night with a 16-1 mark and the number two ranking in the nation. Becker has had his number in the past, however, handing Henning a loss in all three match-ups last season. Friday night was no different as Becker pulled off a 2-0 decision. After riding Henning for the entire second period, Becker earned an escape point and the riding time point in the third period for his sixth straight win over Henning.

Matt Coughlin was up next for the Hoosiers, and he delivered a 9-4 victory over Wisconsin's Jake Donar. The Badgers captured a decision in the 174-pound bout, cutting the Hoosier lead in half. Senior Marc Bennett immediately responded for IU in the following match, jumping out to a 6-2 lead after the first period. The Martinsville, Indiana native then finished off No. 13 Trevor Branvold, 9-3, in the 184-pound bout.

By the time Escobedo's name was called over the PA, the Hoosiers faced a five-point deficit following a tech fall and pin for the Badgers in the 197-lb and heavyweight matches. Escobedo did the same exact thing he has done in every single match this season ... win. His 9-2 triumph over No. 18 Collin Cudd improved his record to 19-0 and narrowed the IU deficit to just two points with three matches remaining.

A loss in the 133-pound match forced Indiana into a must-win situation at the 141-pound weight class. Junior Scott Kelly was matched up against No. 8 Kyle Ruschell (19-3) and gave him everything he could handle. The two wrestled to a scoreless tie in the first period. Ruschell earned an escape point and was handed another one on a stalling call for a 2-0 lead after two periods. Kelly chose the neutral position to begin the third and final period. After several near takedowns early in the period, Kelly got in deep on a shot with less than 10 seconds remaining and came up just inches shy of the would-be tying takedown.

Redshirt freshman Kurt Kinser, who leads D-I wrestling with 17 pins, finished off the night with a 5-0 victory.

The Cream and Crimson get little rest, departing for No. 8 Penn State Saturday morning. Indiana is set to wrestle the Nittany Lions at 2 p.m. on Sunday.