EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The 12th-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling squad extended its non-conference win streak to 17 matches Sunday afternoon on the road versus Michigan State in East Lansing, with 21-8 pounding of the Spartans.
Sunday afternoon's match marked the last out of conference dual for Oklahoma (16-3, 1-3) this season. The Sooners won their final two non-conference matches last year and ended with a perfect 15-0 record in the 2009 campaign.
Against MSU (6-7), OU claimed seven decisions to the Spartans' three to claim the victory and improve its overall mark against the Big 10 school to a 37-7 margin.
Ranked seventh nationally, Joey Fio collected his 12th-straight victory this season over Eric Olanowski by decision, 9-5. The Sandpoint, Idaho, native recorded three takedowns and a reversal in the 125-pound match.
After an unsportsmanlike conduct point was deducted from Michigan State, No. 6 Franklin Gomez would pull the Spartans to within one, 3-2, with a 9-4 win over Oklahoma's 133-pounder David Armstrong.
Seth Vernon put Oklahoma back on track with a 5-2 decision over Collin Dozier in the 141-pound bout. Leading 3-1 to begin the third, the Tulsa, Okla., native used a nearfall in the final stanza to put the match out of reach and make OU's lead 6-2.
Sixth-ranked Kyle Terry remained hot on the season at 149 pounds, collecting his 22nd-straight win with a 10-3 decision over David Cheza. Terry posted four takedowns in the bout to improve to 24-1 on the season.
Chad Terry followed suit of his twin brother, Kyle, by picking up a decision at 157 pounds over Anthony Jones Jr., 8-4. The match was tied at four in the final period before Terry posted an escape and a takedown to ensure the win.
Rex Kendle gave MSU its second win on the afternoon after blanking OU's Derek Peperas, 6-0, to make the team score 12-5 heading into the 174-pound bout.
Jeff James bounced back from two straight losses against top-five Big 12 opponents last weekend to edge Ian Hinton, 3-2, to improve his record to 21-3 on the season. The El Reno, Okla., native is ranked eighth in the nation.
Nick Palmieri posted the Spartans' last win of the day at 184 pounds by defeating Pat Flynn, 9-6. The win inched MSU to within seven team points, 15-8.
Eric Lapotsky would end Michigan State's hope for an upset of the Sooners with a 4-3 decision over John Murphy at 197 pounds. Lapotsky recorded an escape and a reversal in the third, in addition to a riding time point in the final period, to post the win.
Heavyweight Nathan Fernandez closed out the day for Oklahoma in winning fashion, beating Steve Andrus by a 10-8 final. Tied in the third period, 7-7, Fernandez used a takedown and a riding time point to take the victory.
The Sooners will return to Norman to prepare for the second installment of Bedlam next Sunday, Feb. 22, in Stillwater, Okla., at 2 p.m. Oklahoma will attempt to win its third-straight match against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, a feat last accomplished in 1981.
The in-state battle will mark the end of Big 12 competition for both Oklahoma programs.
