Estevez’s pin propels Wrestling to 20-17 win over NIU

Bonus point wins from Justin Patrick, Bryan Lantry and Jason Estevez helped the UB Wrestling team eke out their 10th dual meet win of the season and second straight over the Northern Illinois Huskies 20-17. The win marked the first time since the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons that the Bulls had back-to-back 10 win seasons; the Bulls also clinched their first four win MAC season ever.

The dual started slow for the Bulls dropping close decisions at 165 and 174 pounds to give the Huskies a quick 6-0 lead. Brett Perry, however, used his extreme flexibility and talents as an escape artist to put the Bulls on the board with a 3-1 decision victory. Perry took the 1-1 match into the final seconds of the 3rd period and earned a takedown just shy of the final buzzer to seal the first points for the Bulls.

Nate Rose, filling in for an injured James Benjamin, gave #12 ranked Shawn Scott all he could handle. The Trinidad and Tobago native took Scott down in the first period, but gave up an escape in the first and the second to leave the match tied at 2 heading into the final stanza. Scott had a near takedown at the edge of the mat but it was waved off, sending the match into overtime. Rose was caught out of position by the redshirt senior and was taken down in the first sudden victory period, giving the Huskies a 9-3 lead.

Jake Gunning would swing the team momentum in favor of UB heading into halftime with a narrow 3-2 decision over Caleb Gossett. After the break, Justin Patrick earned his first career dual meet victory in the blue and white with an impressive 12-3 major decision. Patrick was aggressive on his feet and earned five takedowns en route to the win.

Bryan Lantry, coming off of an upset of top-10 ranked Josh Alber of UNI, followed up his performance with a major decision of his own, earning several takedowns in the 3rd period to give UB a 14-9 lead heading into the final three bouts.

Jason Estevez would seal the win for UB with a second period pin of Anhtony Rubino, giving UB a commanding 20-9 lead heading into the final two bouts. The pinfall victory was Estevez’s third of the season and he improved to 9-7.

Though UB lost the final two bouts they were able to hang on to earn their fourth MAC win of the season and 10th overall. The Bulls improved to 10-6 overall and will finish with an even 4-4 record in the MAC.

UB will be on the road this Friday for their final dual meet of the season at in-state rival Binghamton.

Buffalo 20, Northern Illinois 17

125: Justin Patrick (UB) maj. dec. Kirk Johansen (NIU), 12-3

133: #16 Bryan Lantry (UB) maj. dec. Alijah Jeffrey (NIU), 16-7

141: Jason Estevez (UB) pinned Anthony Rubino (NIU), 4:00

149: #10 Steve Bleise (NIU) tech. fall Colt Cotten (UB), 19-4

157: Caden McWherter (NIU) dec. Alex Smythe (UB), 7-2

165: Shaun’Qae McMurtry (NIU) dec. Tyler Rill (UB), 7-6

174: #20 Trace Englekes (NIU) dec. Muhamed McBryde (UB), 4-2

184: Brett Perry (UB) dec. Bryce Gorman (NIU), 3-1

197: #12 Shawn Scott (NIU) SV-1 Nate Rose (UB), 4-2

285: Jake Gunning (UB) dec. Caleb Gossett (NIU), 3-2