Bulls Drop Close Dual to Kent State, 20-17 #UBhornsUP https://t.co/xjfBlxPHHB
— UB BULLS Wrestling (@UB_Wrestling) January 25, 2020
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo wrestling team dropped a close dual to Kent State, 20-17, at Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon. Injuries forced head coach John Stutzman to jostle his lineup a bit, playing into the close loss.
The dual started at 165 and Troy Keller wasted little time getting the Bulls on the board. The senior won a 14-2 major decision over Kade Byland to give UB a 4-0 lead.
After dropping the 174 bout, Pete Acciardi gave the lead back to the Bulls with a 9-3 decision over Tyler Bates. With the match tied, 3-3, after the second period, Acciardi dominated the third to pull away for the win.
However, the tides turned over the next four matches, with the Golden Flashes winning all four. The marquee match was at 133, with #14 Derek Spann taking on #17 Tim Rooney. The Kent State 133-pounder was able to hold off Spann, 6-4, to snap the redshirt-junior's 12-dual match winning streak.
The Bulls did finish the dual strong winning two of their last three matches by technical fall. Marcus Robinson needed only 3:35 to score a 16-0 victory over Earl Blake at 141. At 157, Michael Petite scored a 22-7 tech fall over Conan Becker to remain undefeated in duals on the season (7-0).
It was the second straight close dual dropped by Buffalo. The Bulls are now 7-8 overall and 3-4 in the Mid-American Conference.
UB will next travel to Central Michigan to face the Chippewas on February 7.