DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore Jacobi Jackson’s late meet heroics led NIU wrestling (11-2, 5-1 MAC) past the University at Buffalo (8-11, 3-2 MAC) 18-16 on Saturday.
“I liked that we found a way,” said NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig. “We rallied as a team. This is a situation where in dual meets, bonus point victories are a huge deal and that was really what sealed the margin of victory for us. Victories from (redshirt sophomore) Blake West, bonus point victories from Jacobi (Jackson). So that was able to push us over the hump there.”
With a 5-1 record in the conference, the Huskies hold a two win advantage over Buffalo and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for first place in the MAC West standings.
TWO HUSKIES INCH CLOSER TO PERFECTION
West extended his unblemished MAC win streak to 6-0 after securing his fifth technical fall of the season against Buffalo freshman Max Elton. Approaching a flawless conference record, West has conceded just eight points over his last three matches.
Redshirt freshman Jacob Brya extended his undisputed conference mark to 6-0 after an air-tight 4-0 decision over graduate student and former Huskie Caleb Brooks. Brya, who’s been a staple at 141 pounds since Rider University on Jan. 5, stands as the third Huskie with an unblemished record in both conference and dual meets.
LATE HEROICS
An 11-4 Huskie advantage through the first four matchups was short-lived after Buffalo stole four out of the next five matches.
Senior Matt Zuber momentarily halted Buffalo’s onslaught with a 6-1 decision over redshirt freshman Chase Kranitz at 184, granting the Huskies a narrow 14-13 advantage.
With freshman Sean Carroll dropping the following match at 197 pounds, the fate of the meet hung in the balance as Jackson prepared for a heavyweight showdown against Buffalo’s redshirt freshman Lonnell Owens-Pabon.
Jackson found his offense early and often, navigating a 12-3 cushion to the finish line and orchestrating the third and final lead change in favor of the Huskies.
“I love having these close duals,” Jackson said. “It’s fun when this team gets together and gets hyped for my matches. It’s a good win, a great win — Buffalo came hard but we came harder.”
UP NEXT
The Huskies are back home at 7 p.m. Friday to face two-time defending MAC champion Lock Haven University in the annual “Beauty and the Beast” meet. Broadcast will be available via NIU All-Access and live stats will be available via Track Wrestling.
“They’ll (Lock Haven University) be bringing a full lineup to our home meet ready to put together our next best wrestling – improving even more this week in front of our home crowd,” Ludwig said.
