Jan. 27, 2007

The No. 2 ranked Missouri wrestling team (7-1) will host No. 20 Nebraska (7-4) in a Big 12 season-opening dual, Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center. Missouri's second home dual of the campaign, tickets are five dollars for adults and three dollars for students. Fans also have the option of purchasing tickets for two dollars if they bring a ticket stub from Missouri's Saturday men's basketball game against Texas Tech.

With Nebraska leading the all-time series 36-15-3, the Tigers are anxious to snap a three dual losing streak to the Cornhuskers. Missouri's last win over Nebraska came during the 2002-03 season, when the Tigers held on for a 23-14 victory at home in Columbia.

Currently, all 10 members of Missouri's starting lineup are ranked in at least one nationally recognized wrestling poll. The brother tandem of senior Ben and redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren hold the highest ranking at No. 1 at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively. Both own perfect records with Ben entering the dual at 27-0 and Maxwell at 22-0. Also ranked among the top-10 of their respective weight class are junior All-American Tyler McCormick (fourth at 133 pounds), junior Josh Wagner (ninth at 149 pounds), senior All-American Matt Pell (seventh at 165 pounds) and sophomore Raymond Jordan (fifth at 184 pounds).

Ben Askren, known throughout the wrestling community for his win by fall, has won 23 of his 27 matches by way of the pin this season. Twenty-one of Askren's 23 falls have been recorded in the first period, with the fastest clocked at 36 seconds. Askren wrestled Nebraska's 174 pounder, Casey Roberts, once before this season, pinning the Husker in 1:35 in the opening round of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 2.

Second on the team with pins is freshman standout Ashtin Primus at 141 pounds. Primus has pinned 16 of his opponents.

Nebraska has three grapplers ranked among the top-20 in the nation according to the Jan. 23, USA Today/InterMat Wrestle/NWCA weekly poll. Competing at 125 pounds, sophomore Paul Donahoe is ranked 15th in the nation. Only one Husker senior is ranked, No. 8 Dominic Moyer at 141 pounds. With Nebraska's youth making an immediate impact this season, Craig Brester, ranked eighth in the nation at 197 pounds, will take on No. 1 Maxwell Askren in a battle between freshmen.

After setting a new attendance record of 2,494 fans in their season opener against No. 24 Pittsburgh, Dec. 21, the Tigers are looking to set the bar even higher in their Big 12 opener. Students are encouraged to join the Pinheads by signing up at the table located on the West concourse of the Hearnes Center.