As is fast becoming a trend, the Gophers (11-3 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) swept through the lower weights to jump out to an early 20-0 lead over the Boilermakers with bonus points in the first four matches of the night. All-American Zach Sanders, the No. 5 125-pounder in the nation, scored a 14-5 major decision over Camden Eppert in the opening match before David Thorn picked up another five points for Minnesota with a 17-2 technical fall over Matt Fields in the 133 lbs. match. Second-ranked 141 lbs. grappler Mike Thorn followed up with a pin at 3:31 over Jake Fleckenstein to make it 15-0 before Matt Mincey made his career dual debut with a 15-0 technical fall over Tommy Churchard at 149 lbs.
Purdue (5-6-1, 0-3) fought back with a pair of wins in the middle weights. No. 20 Colton Salazar fended off a strong push by Joe Grygelko in the 157 lbs. match to pick up a 5-3 decision and break the Boilermakers onto the scoreboard. The Boilermakers would add another six team points in the 165 lbs. match when unranked Kyle Mosier upset No. 11 Cody Yohn with a pin at the 6:08 mark to cut the Gophers' lead to 20-9.
But Minnesota would bounce back in the highly anticipated 174 lbs. match that pitted two top-ten wrestlers against each other on the mat. In a close battle, Minnesota's Scott Glasser, ranked eighth in the country in his weight class, picked up a 4-2 decision victory over No. 9 Luke Manuel.
Purdue would add a pair of decision at 184 and 197 lbs. but couldn't lock up bonus points in either match and by the time No. 9 Tony Nelson scored a 4-3 decision win in the heavyweight match, the dual was already out of reach for the Boilermakers.
The fifth-ranked Gophers return to action on Sunday at No. 15 Illinois. Start time for Sunday's competition is slated for 1 p.m. CST.
Results:
125: No. 5 Zach Sanders (MINN) maj. Camden Eppert (PU) 14-5
133: David Thorn (MINN) tech. Matt Fields (PU) 17-2; 7:00
141: No. 2 Mike Thorn (MINN) fall Jake Fleckenstein (PU) 3:31
149: Matt Mincey (MINN) tech. Tommy Churchard (PU) 15-0; 4:56
157: No. 20 Colton Salazar (PU) dec. Joe Grygelko(MINN) 5-3
165: Kyle Mosier (PU) fall No. 11 Cody Yohn (MINN) 6:08
174: No. 8 Scott Glasser (MINN) dec. No. 9 Luke Manuel (PU) 4-2
184: No. 13 A.J. Kissel (PU) dec. No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus (MINN) 4-3
197: No. 10 Logan Brown (PU) dec. Joe Nord (MINN) 4-2
285: No. 9 Tony Nelson (MINN) dec. Roger Vukobratovich (PU) 4-3
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