PITTSBURGH, Pa. – No. 3 Iowa State (14-2, 5-0 Big 12) defeated No. 18 Pittsburgh (9-3, 3-0), 16-15, Friday night thanks to a dual-winning takedown by Sam Schuyler at 285 pounds. Schuyler, ranked No. 10 in the nation, secured the takedown with less than 15 seconds remaining in the final bout to defeat No. 5 Dayton Pitzer, 4-3.
The Cyclones and Panthers each won five bouts in the dual, but Iowa State won on criteria by way of match points, 51-44. It is just the fourth dual in program history to be decided by criteria.
It was a back-and-forth affair with Pittsburgh winning the first three matches before Iowa State won the next three, leaving the teams tied, 9-9, after six matches. The squads then exchanged match wins the remainder of the dual.
Paniro Johnson righted the ship for ISU at 149 pounds after a slow Cyclone start. The Erie, Pennsylvania native earned a 5-3 decision against Tyler Badgett to get the Cyclones on the board.
At 157 pounds, Jason Kraisser secured two takedowns, a reversal and amassed 2:18 of riding time in an 8-5 decision over Jared Keslar.
David Carr evened the dual with a 7-3 decision over Holden Heller at 165 pounds, his 23rd consecutive win.
After ISU dropped the 174-pound bout on a late takedown, No. 4 Marcus Coleman pulled Iowa State back level with a 10-5 victory over Reece Heller. A fast start – two first-period takedowns and two near fall – propelled the Cyclone senior to the win.
Yonger Bastida led late in his match but dropped a tough 6-4 decision to Nino Bonaccorsi in the dual’s featured bout.
With the dual on the line, Schuyler delivered. The senior heavyweight got in on a leg with roughly 30 seconds remaining and managed to limp-arm out of a Pitzer whizzer to secure the match-winning, and dual-clinching, takedown.
Up Next
The Cyclones are back on the road for a dual at Northern Iowa Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. ISU then returns home for against Illinois on Feb. 12 for a matchup against Illinois (Beauty and the Beast). Tickets are available, here.
Match-by-Match Results
No. 3 Iowa State 16, No. 18 Pittsburgh 15
125: Colton Camacho (PITT) dec. Caleb Fuessley (ISU), 3-1
133: Micky Phillippi (PITT) dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 5-4
141: Cole Matthews (PITT) dec. Casey Swiderski (ISU), 5-4
149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. Tyler Badgett (PITT), 5-3
157: Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Jared Keslar (PITT), 8-5
165: David Carr (ISU) dec. Holden Heller (PITT), 7-3
174: Luca Augustine (PITT) dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 6-4
184: Marcus Coleman (ISU) dec. Reece Heller (PITT), 10-5
197: Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) dec. Yonger Bastida (ISU), 6-4
285: Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. Dayton Pitzer (PITT), 4-3
Iowa State wins on criteria (match points), 51-44
