Indiana's 11-0 start to the season is the best start since the 1995-96 season when it opened with 12 wins. The longest win streak for a Hoosier squad is 14, set during the 1989-89 season when it finished undefeated at 14-0 and 6-0 in Big Ten action. The 1989 Hoosiers also finished eighth at the NCAA Championships that year.
Defending national champion Dubuque got the Hoosiers on the board with his decision over Tucker at 125 pounds. Top-ranked Dubuque moved to 14-0 and 2-0 in Big Ten action with the victory.
At 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Andrae Hernandez (IU) defeated sixth-ranked Chris Fleeger (PU) by default. Hernandez, who improved to 21-5 and 2-0 in Big Ten matches, suffered an injury during the contest due to an illegal move from Fleeger. The win gave Indiana a 9-0 lead.
Purdue rallied to tie the affair at nine with back-to-back wins over IU's senior Nick Spatola (8-10, 0-2 Big Ten) and junior Matt Cooper (11-5, 0-1 Big Ten) at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively.
Sophomore All-American Brandon Becker gave IU back the lead at 12-9 with a 7-1 decision over Jake Murphy (PU) at 157 pounds. Becker, ranked seventh in the nation, improved to 16-3 and 2-0 in Big Ten matches.
Indiana sophomores Max Dean (21-6, 2-0 Big Ten) and Marc Bennett (12-8, 2-0 Big Ten) extended the IU lead to 18-9 with wins at both the 165- and 174-pound divisions, respectively. Dean surpassed Purdue's Dan Bedoy by a 10-8 decision in overtime, while Bennett topped Nick Corpe (PU) in a 4-3 decision.
The Boilermakers then claimed their final points of the day with an 11-6 decision by fourth-ranked Ben Wissel over Indiana's Justin Curran (20-6, 1-1 Big Ten) at 184 pounds.
At 197 pounds, senior Brady Richardson moved to 21-3 and 2-0 in Big Ten duals with his 11-6 decision over Nathan Moore (PU). Two-time NCAA qualifier Richardson currently stands nine wins away from reaching his 100th career win and is ranked fifth in the nation.
Sophomore Dave Herman wrapped up the winning affair with a 4-2 decision over Aaron Keough in the heavyweight division. Herman currently leads the Hoosiers in wins with 23, and stands at 23-7 and 2-0 in Big Ten duals. The Hoosiers continue their Big Ten slate in back-to-back home matches against No. 3 Illinois on Jan. 27, followed by No. 7 Iowa on Jan. 29. IU will face the Illini at University Gym, while it will host the Hawkeyes at Assembly Hall.
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