Feb. 12, 2012

DEKALB, Ill. - Brendan Murphy, Cole Rogers, and Gabe Hocum each won twice as SIUE wrestling split its two matches Sunday.

SIUE defeated Tiffin 31-9 and lost to host Northern Illinois 34-8.

"The NIU match was exciting," said SIUE Head Coach David Ray. "It was physical from the start."

Murphy, a 133-pounder, kicked off the Tiffin match with a 1 minute, 7 second, pin over Stephen Pastor. Murphy later would blank Northern Illinois' Rob Jilliard 3-0.

Hocum picked up a forfeit against Tiffin and then earned a decision over NIU's Dan Burk 7-4 at 165 pounds.

Rogers was the only Cougar to win at two different weight classes. He earned an 11-1 major decision at heavyweight over Tiffin's Derek Eschelman. Rogers would go on to edge Northern Illinois' Mike Lukowski 8-5 at 197 pounds.

"Cole had a great day today. He wrestled hard in two seven-minute matches. He wrestled tough," said Ray.

Patrick Myers, Kyle Lowman, and Steve Ross also won their matches against Tiffin. Myers was a 5-3 overtime winner over Ryan McKenzie at 141 pounds. Lowman topped Trevor Nickolai 11-4 at 157 pounds. Ross edged Chris Baker 4-1 at 165 pounds.

SIUE's regular season comes to a close next Sunday when the Cougars take on Buffalo in a 1 p.m. match at the Vadalabene Center.

-siue cougars-

SIUE 31, Tiffin 9
125: Double forfeit
133: Brendan Murphy (SIUE) pins Stephen Pastor (TU), 1:07.
141: Patrick Myers (SIUE) dec. Ryan McKenzie (TU), 5-3 (OT)
149: Kyle Begg (TU) won by forfeit
157: Kyle Lowman (SIUE) dec. Trevor Nickolai (TU), 11-4
165: Steve Ross (SIUE) dec. Chris Baker (TU), 4-1
174: Gabe Hocum (SIUE) won by forfeit
184: Kevin Christman (TU) dec. Cole Brandt (SIUE), 2-1
197: Deshoun White (SIUE) won by forfeit
285: Cole Rogers (SIUE) maj. dec. Derek Eshcelman (TU), 11-1

Northern Illinois 34, SIUE 8
125: Nick Smith (NIU) won by forfeit
133: Brendan Murphy (SIUE) dec. Rob Jillard (NIU), 3-0
141: Kevin Fanta (NIU) maj. dec. Patrick Myers (SIUE), 13-2
149: Tyler Argue (NIU) won by forfeit
157: Tyler Loethen (NIU) dec. Kyle Lowman (SIUE), 9-5
165: Gabe Hocum (SIUE) dec. Dan Burk (NIU), 7-4
174: Caleb Busson (NIU) dec. Deshoun White (SIUE), 6-3
184: Brad Dieckhaus (NIU) pins Cole Brandt (SIUE), 2:07
197: Cole Rogers (SIUE) dec. Mike Lukowski (NIU), 8-5
285: Jared Torrence (NIU) won by forfeit
*SIUE deducted one point for unsportsmanlike conduct following 197-pound match