The Sooners were down 18-3 with just four bouts remaining, but tallied four consecutive wins, including two bonus-point victories, to secure the win and their 10th dual victory of the season.
"We wrestled pretty average today," OU Head Coach Lou Rosselli said. "We got lucky in the end, and Ross saved the team to win 19-18. I think there are some guys who wrestled really well. There were guys I was happy for and some who didn't wrestle to their potential, but they need to do a better job at the little things."
In the 149-pound bout, No. 13 Davion Jeffries downed Wyoming's Cole Mendenhall by 7-4 decision. Jeffries struck first with a takedown in the opening period to hold a 2-1 lead after one. Jeffries added two escapes, a takedown and secured the riding-time point over the final two frames to put the Sooners on the board.
At 174 pounds, redshirt senior Matt Reed recorded a 9-2 decision over Kyle Pope. Reed held a 4-0 advantage entering the second period and received a penalty point in the second to extend his lead to 5-1. He tacked on an escape, a takedown and the riding-time point in the third for the win.
DaWaylon Barnes, who began the season at 157 pounds, kept the momentum rolling for the Sooners with an 8-5 decision over Luke Paine. Barnes led 5-1 entering the third period and added a takedown and secured the riding-time point to cut Wyoming's lead to 18-9.
Johnson owned Oklahoma's first bonus-point win of the afternoon with a 16-7 technical fall over Luke Paine at 197 pounds. Johnson came out on fire, tallying three takedowns and two 2-point nearfalls in the opening period to lead 10-2. He added a reversal, two escapes, a penalty point and the riding-time point over the final periods to put the Sooners within five with one match to go.
With the dual on the line, redshirt senior Larson recorded his 53rd career pin in 1:43 over Brandon Tribble to give the Sooners the win. Larson recorded a quick takedown to hold a 2-0 lead at the time of the fall. The pin marks his 11th of the season, and he needs just five more to tie the OU career pin record of 58 set by Dan Chaid.
"Going into that, I knew that if I did get the fall we were going to win by one point," Larson said. "You try not to think about that going into the match, but it's hard not to think about that and not let it go through your mind. I thought we wrestled alright today. You just go out there and the coaches are telling you just two points at a time and if the fall is there you'll get it, so I'm just trying to focus on scoring points. But it's definitely exciting to pick that up and get the win."
Christian Moody dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 15 Drew Templeman in the 125-pound bout, and Gunnar Woodburn downed Trae Blackwell by 7-6 decision in SV1 at 133 pounds. In the 141-pound matchup, No. 8 Bryce Meredith pinned Mike Longo in 6:50.
At 157 pounds, No. 19 Archie Colgan beat Jared Schieber, 5-2, and No. 10 Yoanse Mejias dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 16 Branson Ashworth in the 165-pound matchup.
The Sooners return to the mat on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. for the second Bedlam contest of the season in Stillwater. Oklahoma is back in McCasland for its final home dual on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. against Oregon State.
Results:
125: No. 15 Drew Templeman (WYO) dec. Christian Moody (OU), 2-1
133: Gunnar Woodburn (WYO) dec. Trae Blackwell (OU), 7-6 (SV1)
141: No. 8 Bryce Meredith (WYO) fall Mike Longo (OU), 6:50
149: No. 13 Davion Jeffries (OU) dec. Cole Mendenhall (WYO), 7-4
157: No. 19 Archie Colgan (WYO) dec. Jared Schieber (OU), 5-2
165: No. 16 Branson Ashworth (WYO) dec. No. 10 Yoanse Mejias (OU), 5-2
174: Matt Reed (OU) dec. Kyle Pope (WYO), 9-2
184: DaWaylon Barnes (OU) dec. Luke Paine (WYO), 8-5
197: Brad Johnson (OU) maj. dec. Lucas Lovvorn (WYO), 16-7
HWT: No. 19 Ross Larson (OU) fall Brandon Tribble (WYO), 1:43
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