The match started with an Ohio forfeit at 125 pounds, giving the Spartans a quick 6-0 advantage. No. 3 Franklin Gomez remained perfect in dual action with his 13-3 major decision victory over Seth Morton. Gomez began the match with two takedowns in the first, sandwiching Morton's escape. In the second period, Gomez tallied an escape and another takedown, picking up three points. In the final period, Morton escaped twice but forfeited a point for stalling and couldn't overcome Gomez' two takedowns. With the win, MSU extended its lead to 10-0.
At 141 pounds, Micah Carter made his first career start for the Spartans, and tallied his first dual win, taking down Germane Lindsey in a 12-6 decision. Carter jumped out to a fast 5-0 lead, with a takedown and three near fall points. Lindsey managed an escape, only to be taken down again to give Carter a 7-1 lead after the first period. The pair traded points in the second, then Carter started the third with another takedown. Lindsey fought back with an escape and eventual takedown, but Carter held on to capture the win, 11-6.
Anthony Jones Jr. also started and won his first dual match, defeating Kevin Christensen 5-3 at 149 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Jones struck first with an escape, but Christensen took a one-point lead with a takedown. Heading into the third period, Jones gave up an escape but posted a takedown to tie the score 3-3, forcing a sudden-death overtime. Moments into the extra minute, Jones picked up two points with the winning takedown.
John Fulger continued to dominate for the Green and White, picking up a 7-2 win over Clay Tucker at 157 pounds. In the second period, Fulger tallied the first points with a takedown, then earned three more with an escape and an additional takedown in the third. With a 5-0 lead, Tucker managed a reversal to put two points on the board, but Fulger quickly posted a reversal of his own, to seal the win for Michigan State. After the end of five bouts, the Spartans led Ohio 19-0.
Coming out of intermission, Rex Kendle showed no signs of Michigan State letting up, as the 165-pounder posted the night's second major decision for the Spartans; Kendle defeated Kent Smith 10-2. Smith struck first with a takedown, but Kendle soon regained control with an escape and a takedown to finish the first period ahead 3-2. Kendle tallied the remainder of the points with an escape, two takedowns and two nearfall points. The eight major decision points boosted MSU's lead to 23-0.
At 174 pounds, John Murphy earned the night's only fall, pinning Ryan Knapp in 6:44. The match started with an MSU 4-1 advantage after the first, and Murphy tacked on additional points to lead 9-2. With an early takedown in the third, Murphy lead 11-2 before pinning Knapp in the final minute.
Nick Palmieri kept the Spartans' shutout alive with an 11-3 major decision victory over Erik Schuth at 184 pounds. Palmieri tallied two takedowns in the first, while Schuth managed a single escape. After a scoreless second period, Palmieri tacked on six points with three takedowns, but gave up two Ohio escapes. With the additional point from riding time. Palmieri chalked up the major decision win and added on four team points for the Spartans' 33-0 lead.
MSU's No. 18 Joe Williams took a solid 5-0 lead against Chris Iammarino after two periods at 197 pounds. Iammarino gave MSU a scare as he tallied two near fall points, but Williams quickly rolled loose for an escape point. With a 6-2 lead, Williams took down Iammarino and inched Michigan State one bout closer to a perfect night.
In the night's final match, Alan O'Donnell battled to the last seconds with Ohio's Jason Marshall. O'Donnell, who returned to the starting lineup after missing over a month with a knee injury, picked up three escape points after a scoreless first period, but Marshall maintianed a 4-3 lead with takedown points. Marshall extended his lead to 5-4 with an early escape in the third, but O'Donnell swept in to tally a takedown. Marshall eventually escaped again, and rebuttled with a takedown of his own, regaining the lead 8-6. O'Donnell inched back within one point with an escape, and with four seconds left in regulation, O'Donnell gave the fans a thrilling finish, taking down Marshall for the eventual 9-8 win.
The Spartans return to the mat Saturday, Jan. 12 in Oklahoma City, Okla., taking on Pittsburgh and Oklahoma. Action begins at 2 p.m.
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