"We preach all year about competing, and we did today at all of the weight classes," said head coach Roger Chandler. "I have been saying all week that this match would come down to bonus points, and give it to our guys, they wrestled for all seven minutes."
MSU has defeated the Eagles in four of the previous five meetings, and is 18-3 all-time against EMU. Four of the past seven contests have been decided by less than four points.
The 165-lb. bout concluded the match after the day started at 174 pounds. Entering the final matchup of the day, the Eagles (6-7, 2-5 MAC) had won the previous two bouts to take a 16-14 edge over Michigan State (5-10, 1-7 B1G). No. 25 Hughes, coming in winner of three of the past four, faced off against EMU's Devan Marry. After two scoreless periods, Hughes turned Marry to the mat for a four-point nearfall. With riding time in his favor, Hughes clinched the decision, 5-0.
"We told all of the guys in the locker room that we needed everyone to wrestle hard, but for Drew as a true freshman to have that kind of pressure on him, we rely a lot on him. He didn't freak out, kept competing and got the turn late," said Chandler.
No. 20 Javier Gasca gave the Spartans' their largest lead of the day at 14-10 with a 20-2 technical fall victory over No. 31 Kyle Springer at 141 pounds. Springer jumped ahead early with a takedown before Gasca wheeled off 20 unanswered points. Leading just 3-2 at the end of the first, the redshirt junior from Kingsburg, California, had three takedowns in the second that he converted into back point on each shot.
"Javier always just keeps wrestling," Chandler said. "He got down early but then just took over and kept competing. He stepped up and really won the dual for us."
At 133-pounds, redshirt junior Austin Eicher pulled Michigan State to within one after trailing 10-6, claiming a 6-3 decision over Armando Torres. In the first, Torres connected on a shot to take Eicher to the mat and jump out to a 2-0 lead. Eicher regained his composure though, tallying an escape and takedown in the second. The final period was all Eicher, recording a second takedown and earning the riding time bonus.
Sophomore Jacob Cooper pulled off the biggest upset of the day for the Spartans, defeating No. 19 Gage Hutchison in sudden victory, 5-3. Cooper wasted no time taking a lead, connecting on a takedown for two points. Hutchison knotted the bout after a stalling call and an escape in the first. A second stalling call gave Hutchison a slight lead at the end of the second period. Cooper tied the bout to force overtime, then notched a takedown late in the first sudden victory. After an EMU challenge, the call was confirmed.
"I am proud of Jacob. We knew and have been telling him that he can compete with the best in the country," said Chandler. "For Jacob, it has been a mental hold back, but today he believed and got the win. I really hope that this will catapult him moving forward for the rest of the season and into the Big Ten Tournament."
Redshirt sophomore Shwan Shadaia notched Michigan State's first victory of the day, claiming a 3-1 decision at 184 pounds against Kayne MacCallum. Following a scoreless opening period, MacCallum scored first with an escape after starting on bottom. In the final frame, Shadaia started on bottom and escaped to tie the tilt before connecting on a late shot for a 3-1 victory.
"These guys have competed all year and to come out on the positive side of one of these big duals is huge," Chandler said. "It will be the same message next week - keep wrestling for seven minutes and the results will take care of themselves."
Michigan State concludes regular-season action with the Big Ten and regular-season finale at Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. ET. The Big Ten Championships are March 4-5 in Bloomington, Indiana.
Bout-By-Bout
125: No. 18 Noah Gonser (EMU) over Mitch Rogaliner (MSU) (Dec 4-2)
Gonser had a first-period takedown before Rogaliner reversed Gonser to tie the bout. Rogaliner chose bottom to start the second. Gonser rode out Rogaliner for the second period. Gonser escaped to lead 3-2 in the third and finished with 1:37 of riding time.
133: No. 28 Austin Eicher (MSU) over Armando Torres (EMU) (Dec 6-3)
Torres had an early takedown in the first period. Richer escaped before notching a takedown and taking a 3-2 lead. Torres chose neutral to start the third. Eicher has a takedown in the third but gave up the escape to Torres. Eicher clinched with riding time.
141: No. 23 Javier Gasca (MSU) over No. 31 Kyle Springer (EMU) (TF 20-2)
Springer had a takedown in the first, but an escape and takedown by Gasca gave him a 3-2 edge to start the second. Gasca chose bottom to start. Gasca escaped. Gasca with a takedown and turned for a four-point nearfall. A second takedown and another four-point nearfall put Gasca up 16-2. A final takedown and mat points ended the tilt.
149: No. 28 Nick Barber (EMU) over Nick Trimble (MSU) (Dec 3-1)
Scoreless after the first, Barber chose bottom to start the second. Barber recorded the escape. After the second, Barber led 1-0. Trimble chose down. Trimble tied with an escape. Barber connected for a last-second takedown.
157: Zac Carson (EMU) over Austin Thompson (MSU) (Dec 8-5)
An early takedown by Thompson gave him a 2-0 lead. Carson escaped before being brought down to the mat again. Carson reversed Thompson to pull within one. Carson chose bottom for the second. Another reversal gave Carson the lead. Thompson escaped to knot the tilt. Carson ended the second with a takedown. Thompson started the third on bottom. Stalling on Thompson. Carson secured the riding and the win, 8-5.
165: No. 25 Drew Hughes (MSU) over Devan Marry (EMU) (Dec 5-0)
Scoreless in the first period. Marry chose neutral to start the second. Hughes started the third on top. Caution on Hughes. Hughes gets a near fall and riding time for 5-0 decision.
174: Jacob Davis (EMU) over Drew Barnes (MSU) (Dec. 7-4)
Barnes with a late takedown in the first. Davis quickly reversed Barnes and got back points to lead 6-2. Barnes chose bottom to start the second. Barnes had an escape. Davis chose down to start the third. Stalling on Davis. Davis with an escape.
184: Shwan Shadaia (MSU) over Kayne MacCallum (EMU) (Dec 3-1)
Scoreless after the first. Kayne chose bottom to start the second period. Kayne escaped with 1:20 left in the second. Shadaia chose bottom to start the third. Caution on Kayne. Shadaia with an escape to tie the score. Shadaia connected on a takedown at the end to take the match 3-1.
197: Derek Hillman (EMU) over Wesley Maskill (MSU) (MD 11-0)
Hillman with the takedown and back points to take a 6-0 lead. Maskill chooses neutral for the second. Hillman with a takedown at the edge of the mat. Hillman rode out the second period. Hillman chooses neutral to start the third. Hillman takes down Maskill and clinches riding time.
HWT: Jacob Cooper (MSU) over No. 19 Gage Hutchison (EMU) (SV-1 5-3)
Cooper with an early takedown. Hutchison with an escape. Hutchison chose bottom to start the second. Stalling on Cooper. Cooper chose neutral to start the third. Hutchison warned for stalling. Cooper with a takedown in sudden victory. Call in challenged by Eastern Michigan. Call confirmed.
Results:
125: No. 18 Noah Gonser (EMU) over Mitch Rogaliner (MSU) (Dec 4-2)
133: No. 28 Austin Eicher (MSU) over Armando Torres (EMU) (Dec 6-3)
141: No. 23 Javier Gasca (MSU) over No. 31 Kyle Springer (EMU) (TF 20-2)
149: No. 28 Nick Barber (EMU) over Nick Trimble (MSU) (Dec 3-1)
157: Zac Carson (EMU) over Austin Thompson (MSU) (Dec 8-5)
165: No. 25 Drew Hughes (MSU) over Devan Marry (EMU) (Dec 5-0)
174: Jacob Davis (EMU) over Drew Barnes (MSU) (Dec 7-4)
184: Shwan Shadaia (MSU) over Kayne MacCallum (EMU) (Dec 3-1)
197: Derek Hillman (EMU) over Wesley Maskill (MSU) (MD 11-0)
HWT: Jacob Cooper (MSU) over No. 19 Gage Hutchison (EMU) (SV-1 5-3)
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