Jordan Pagano and Matthew Correnti provided major decision victories at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively, for the Scarlet Knights (10-3, 4-2) in the second half, securing RU's 11th-straight season of double-digit wins.
“After those first two I was worried, but we battled,†said head coach Scott Goodale. “It was a long road trip, but we battled hard and guys did what they had to do. It's good to finish up with a win on the road otherwise it makes for a long trip back. Good for us, now let's get ready for Indiana.â€
RU found itself in a tight match through six bouts, with the Spartans (4-9, 1-6) picking off wins at 125 and 133 pounds for a 9-0 lead. 125-pounder Brandon Paetzell led Logan Griffin, 2-1, late in the third period, but got caught on his back with 30 seconds left in a loss by fall.
At 133 pounds, Austin Eicher used a takedown with two seconds left to defeat Scott DelVecchio. DelVecchio entered the third period with a 1-0 edge, but Eicher escaped and established control of the RU grappler as the horn sounded.
Following the close losses, the Scarlet Knights roared back to take a lead into intermission. No. 6 Anthony Ashnault beat NCAA qualifier Javier Gasca for his 20th win of the season, No. 14 Ken Theobold dominated in a 6-0 decision for his fourth-straight victory, and No. 17 John Van Brill recorded the first of three majors in the dual for RU.
MSU grabbed the lead right back, as Drew Hughes rode out Anthony Pafumi in the third period for a 1-0 win at 165 pounds. The result made it 12-10 Spartans with four matches to go.
But Pagano went to work to swing momentum back to the Scarlet Knights, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first period on his way to a commanding 8-0 win.
RU outscored MSU by a combined 27-3 over the final four matches. No. 14 Nicholas Gravina continued the onslaught with a 5-0 decision and 3:20 of riding time.
Correnti followed up by scoring three takedowns in the last period for his third major decision. Heavyweight Razohnn Gross won his third in a row in a 3-0 decision against Jacob Cooper and has won four of his last five overall.
“I feel great about those guys right now. They're wrestling really well,†Goodale said of Correnti and Gross. “A true freshman and a guy who hasn't wrestled in four years and they're starting to come on. They're really getting their legs under them and starting to understand this whole Big Ten schedule, the grind, the travel, all that. I feel good about what we're doing at our upper weights.â€
RU hosts Indiana at the Rutgers Athletic Center next Sunday at noon and face a quick turnaround with a 7 p.m. Monday night match at No. 4 Ohio State on Big Ten Network.
Results:
125: Logan Griffin (MSU) wins by fall against Brandon Paetzell (RU), 6:31; MSU leads, 6-0
133: No. NR/20/NR Austin Eicher (MSU) dec. over Scott DelVecchio (RU), 3-1; MSU leads, 9-0
141: No. 6/6/6 Anthony Ashnault (RU) dec. over Javier Gasca (MSU), 7-2; MSU leads, 9-3
149: No. 14/16/14 Ken Theobold (RU) dec. over Nick Trimble (MSU), 6-0; MSU leads, 9-6
157: No. 17/13/14 John Van Brill (RU) major dec. over Austin Thompson (MSU), 10-2; MSU leads, 10-9
165: No. NR/NR/16 Drew Hughes (MSU) dec. over Anthony Pafumi (RU), 1-0; MSU leads, 12-10
174: Jordan Pagano (RU) major dec. over Drew Barnes (MSU), 8-0; RU leads, 14-12
184: No. 13/12/14 Nicholas Gravina (RU) dec. over Shwan Shadaia (MSU), 5-0; RU leads, 17-12
197: Matthew Correnti (RU) major dec. over Jimmy Russell (MSU), 11-3; RU leads, 21-12
HWT: Razohnn Gross (RU) dec. over Jacob Cooper (MSU), 3-0; RU wins, 24-12
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