Huskers Fall By Tiebreaker to Michigan, 17-16

Lincoln, Neb. – No. 7 Nebraska (11-2, 5-2 Big Ten) fell to No. 11 Michigan by a 17-16 margin (Tiebreaker 3) in front of 2,667 fans at the Devaney Center on Friday night.

The Senior Night dual ended in a 16-16 tie, but the Wolverines won on technical points, 56-52. The Huskers trailed 9-0 after three matches, but won five of the next six to build a 16-12 lead before dropping the final bout.

Junior Jake Sueflohn (149) started Nebraska’s run in the fourth match of the night with his 9-3 decision over No. 7 Eric Grajales. The pair traded takedowns in the first period before Sueflohn earned an escape and a takedown in the second period. Holding a 6-2 lead, Sueflohn added on a takedown in the final period to emerge with the victory.

Top-ranked 157-pounder James Green continued Nebraska’s momentum in the following match, edging Jake Salazar, 7-6, in overtime. Green built a 5-1 lead in the second period before Salazar mounted a comeback to tie the match at 6. Following a scoreless sudden victory, Green escaped in the first 30-second overtime period before riding out Salazar in the second overtime.

After Nebraska’s Austin Wilson (165) fell by a 4-0 decision to No. 6 Dan Yates, the Huskers responded by winning the next three matches.

At 174 pounds, reigning All-American Robert Kokesh earned four takedowns against Collin Zeerip to emerge with an 11-2 major decision. Kokesh wins his 14th match in a row to improve to 28-1 on the season and boasts a perfect 13-0 dual record.

A pair of ranked freshmen grappled at 184 pounds, with Nebraska’s TJ Dudley coming out with an 8-6 sudden victory. At the end of the second period, Dudley trailed 6-3 after the officials reversed their original call to give Dominic Abounader a takedown. Dudley started the final period in the down position, earning an escape and a takedown to tie the score a 6 before taking down the Wolverine in sudden victory.

Caleb Kolb (197) was one of three seniors honored before the dual and came from behind to win a 5-4 decision over Chris Heald. Heald earned a takedown in the first period to take a 2-0 lead, but Kolb managed to escape in the second period to cut the lead to 2-1. Heald started the third period in the down position and earned an escape to take a 3-1 advantage. Kolb earned two additional takedowns to emerge with the win and send the home crowd into a frenzy.

In the final match, redshirt freshman Collin Jensen dropped a 12-3 major decision to No. 2 Adam Coon. The Huskers also suffered losses at 125, 133, 141 and 165 pounds.

In the opening bout, No. 9 Tim Lambert (125) lost by a 2-0 decision to No. 20 Conor Youtsey. At 133 pounds, senior Shawn Nagel trailed 5-1 in the second period before tying the match at 6. However, No. 19 Rossi Bruno earned a point for riding time to give Michigan a 6-0 lead.

Freshman Colton McCrystal (141) fell to No. 13 Steve Dutton, 10-3, and sophomore Austin Wilson (165) lost to No. 6 Dan Yates, 4-0.

The Huskers wrap up their dual season in two weeks when they face Wisconsin on the road. The dual between Nebraska and the Badgers is set for Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., in Madison, Wis. It will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network.

No. 11 Michigan 17, No. 7 Nebraska 16
Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, Neb.
Friday, Feb. 7, 2014
Attendance: 2,667

Results
125: #20 Conor Youtsey (MICH) by dec. over #9 Tim Lambert (NEB), 2-0 (MICH 3, NEB 0)
133: #19 Rossi Bruno (MICH) by dec. over Shawn Nagel (NEB), 7-6 (MICH 6, NEB 0)
141: #13 Steve Dutton (MICH) by dec. over Colton McCrystal (NEB), 10-3 (MICH 9, NEB 0)
149: #5 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by dec. over #7 Eric Grajales (MICH), 9-3 (MICH 9, NEB 3)
157: #1 James Green (NEB) by overtime dec. over Jake Salazar (MICH), 7-6 (MICH 9, NEB 6)
165: #6 Dan Yates (MICH) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 4-0 (MICH 12, NEB 6)
174: #4 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Collin Zeerip (MICH), 11-2 (MICH 12, NEB 10)
184: #9 TJ Dudley (NEB) by sudden victory over #16 Dominic Abounader (MICH), 8-6 (NEB 13, MICH 12)
197: Caleb Kolb (NEB) by dec. over Chris Heald (MICH), 5-4 (NEB 16, MICH 12)
HWT: #2 Adam Coon (MICH) by major dec. over Collin Jensen (NEB), 12-3 (NEB 16, MICH 16)
*Tiebreaker 3: Michigan wins on technical points, 56-52 (MICH 17, NEB 16)