The Hawkeyes (8-0, 2-0) recorded three wins by bonus points and scored a pair of upsets at 157 and 285. Edwin Cooper, Jr. scored a takedown off the opening whistle and built up 1:27 riding time to defeat No. 17 Richie Lewis, 6-4, and Sam Stoll scored on a counter 20 seconds into overtime to defeat No. 6 Billy Smith, 3-1.
"I've had a couple of tough loses against some other ranked opponents," said Cooper, who won for the first time in four nationally-ranked matches. "Getting this one and getting it done right will help in the future."
Stoll has won seven straight matches since dropping the season opener to No. 4 Austin Marsden. He's pinned four opponents during that stretch, and he now has a top 10 win under his belt.
"It's good because it's my first ranked win, but I know there is more I could have done in that match," said Stoll. "Brands talks all the time that just because he's a ranked opponent, it doesn't have to be close. I have to believe that and I think I did some good things, but there is definitely more to improve."
Stoll's win put the lid on a dual that saw Iowa hold a 31-7 advantage in takedowns and a 98-44 lead in match points. The Hawkeyes scored 56 points in the third period.
"We had two wins over ranked opponents, but we are still finding some things out," said UI head coach Tom Brands. "As long as they get better every time out we have a chance. And we have to compete. We still have a lot of work to do."
The Hawkeyes opened the dual with a technical fall by Thomas Gilman at 125 and a major decision from Cory Clark at 133. Both wins were against ranked opponents.
"The results are what (other) guys see, and it's going to scare them," said Gilman. "He may have had close matches with tough opponents or other ranked guys, but when I go out and tech fall him it sends a message. I'm out here on a mission."
Gilman's win was his second of the season against a ranked opponent, and his eighth win overall -- all by bonus points.
Rutgers got on the board at 141 when third-ranked Anthony Ashnault used a four-point tilt in the opening period for the difference in an 8-4 win against Topher Carton.
"It was a missed opportunity," said Carton, who was making his first dual appearance of the season. "I told coach I wanted to go and he gave me a shot. I had a chance to make a statement for the Carver crowd and I didn't. There are no moral victories. I know I can beat that guy and any other guy in the country. But I have to go out and do it."
Brandon Sorensen used nine takedowns to earn a 21-6 technical fall at 149, and after No. 12 Anthony Perrotti won 8-7 at 165 against Patrick Rhoads, the Hawkeyes closed the dual with four consecutive wins. Alex Meyer won 8-3 at 174, Sammy Brooks scored eight of the final nine points to rally for an 11-5 win at 184, and Nathan Burak won 6-1 with 2:20 riding time at 197. Stoll closed the dual with the overtime decision.
The Hawkeyes return to the mat Dec. 29-30 at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Illinois. The next home dual is Jan. 22 against Purdue at 7 p.m. (CT).
NOTES: Attendance was 6,791... Gilman improved to 8-0 with all eight wins by bonus points... Carton lost for the first time in five Carver-Hawkeye Arena appearances... Edwin Cooper, Jr., and Sam Stoll earned their first career wins over ranked opponent... Alex Meyer improved to 11-0 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Results:
125 - #2 Thomas Gilman (IA) tech. fall #18 Sean McCabe (R), 21-6; 5-0
133 - #2 Cory Clark (IA) major dec. #17 Anthony Giraldo (R), 11-2; 9-0
141 - #3 Anthony Ashnault (R) dec. Topher Carton (IA), 8-4; 9-3
149 - #2 Brandon Sorensen (IA) tech. fall Tyson Dippery (R), 21-6; 14-3
157 - Edwin Cooper, Jr. (IA) dec. #17 Richie Lewis (R), 6-4; 17-3
165 - #12 Anthony Perrotti (R) dec. Patrick Rhoads (IA), 8-7; 17-6
174 - #3 Alex Meyer (IA) dec. Phil Bakuckas (R), 8-3; 20-6
184 - #8 Sammy Brooks (IA) dec. Nichalas Gravina (R), 11-5; 23-6
197 - #4 Nathan Burak (IA) dec. Hayden Hrymack (R), 6-1; 26-6
285 - Sam Stoll (IA) dec. #6 Billy Smith (R), 3-1 (OT); 29-6
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