Seconds after Derek Hunsinger hit the mat face-first, the NIU freshman saw double vision. Then blood began pouring from his cheekbone under his left eye.

“I felt excruciating pain,” said the 197-pound Hunsinger, whose orbital bone around his eye was broken. “I saw kind of a bright light and then blood started coming out. I felt nauseous.”

But after having the left side of his head bandaged, Hunsinger returned to the match with one good eye and won a major decision to propel the No. 24 Huskies to a 25-9 victory Saturday over Ohio (8-8-1 overall, 1-1 MAC).

In front of 150 fans at Victor E. Court, the NIU wrestling team (11-2, 3-0) won its 11th- straight match and held its fourth straight- opponent to single digits.

The Huskies started strong by winning five of the first six matches. Senior Sam Hiatt reached 20 wins for the fourth-straight year at 133 pounds and 165-pound sophomore Johnny Galloway also achieved his team-leading 21st victory.

Despite possessing an 18-9 lead with two matches remaining, NIU coach Dave Grant was impressed by Hunsinger’s willingness to finish despite injury.

“He’s one tough dude, that’s all I got to say,” Grant said. “It made a huge difference. If we had forfeit out there, it would have been a nine or 10-point swing.”

Hunsinger led Ryan Knapp 2-0 when the injury occurred. After spending a few minutes kneeling near the bench receiving medical attention, Hunsinger returned to the match despite the pain.

“I really wasn’t thinking, I just wanted to get through the match,” Hunsinger said. “Then he started throwing some cheap shots at my eye to make me injury default, so I got mad and the adrenaline started flowing.”

Hunsinger ended up with an 8-0 major decision victory, but was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital directly after the match. He received 11 stitches to close the laceration.

Hunsinger said he will see a specialist today to see if he needs surgery. The injury may cause him to miss Friday’s home match against Central Michigan.