Jan. 14, 2012

HAMPTON, Va. - The No. 9 Missouri wrestling squad (8-1) moved into the finals at the Virginia Duals with a come-from-behind victory over No. 23 Edinboro (4-2) on Saturday afternoon, winning 19-16 over the Fighting Scots. Mizzou trailed 12-3 after four matches but would win five of the last six bouts to move into Saturday night's finals. The Tigers will face a familiar foe in No. 22 Kent State. #recapbox {background-color:#CCCCCC; padding:0.5em 0 1em 0; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width: 320px; float:right; border:#CC9900 solid 1px} #recapboxfb {background-color:#CCCCCC; padding:0.5em 0; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width: 390px; float:right; border:#CC9900 solid 1px} #recapphoto {padding:0; margin:1em 0; border-top:#000000 solid 1px; border-bottom:#000000 solid 1px} #recaptable {padding:1em 1em 0 1em} .center {text-align: center;} .teams {background-color:#cc9900; color:#000000; font-weight:bold; text-align:left} .headerblack {background-color:#000000; color:#CC9900; font-weight:bold; text-align:center} .headergold {background-color:#cc9900; color:#000000; font-weight:bold; text-align:center}

No. 3 Alan Waters got the Tigers out on the right foot, defeating Kory Mines by a 6-2 decision. Mines got the first takedown but Waters got out and landed a takedown of his own to lead 3-2 after the first. He started in the second and escaped again, and landed another takedown in the third while riding Mines out to secure the riding time point. However, a first period win by fall at 133 and one point decisions at 141 and 149 for Edinboro put them up 12-3 after four contests.

Redshirt freshman Drake Houdashelt was able to swing the momentum in Missouri's favor with a 13-4 major decision at 157 pounds. Up 3-0 after two periods, Houdashelt scored four takedowns in the third to get crucial bonus points for the Tigers.

Houdashelt's win kicked off a string of four straight victories for Missouri. No. 20 Zach Toal followed up with a 9-6 decision over Jesse Swink, while No. 10 Patrick Wright shut out Chris Hunkra, 4-0, to give Missouri the 13-12 lead. Senior Dorian Henderson stepped in at 184 pounds and defeated Vic Avery by a 3-1 score to extend the Tiger lead to 16-12.

However, No. 2 Chris Honeycutt scored a 14-4 major decision victory over No. 11 Brent Haynes, evening the score at 16-16 going into the final contest. At heavyweight, Devin Mellon and Ernest James battled deep into overtime, remaining tied at 2-2 heading to the riding time tiebreaker round. Mellon started out bottom and got out almost instantly to take the 3-2 lead. James also escaped in his half of the tiebreaker, but Mellon was able to ride him out longer, giving him and the Tigers the victory.

The win advances Missouri into Saturday evening's championship round against No. 22 Kent State, beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Tigers and Golden Flashes faced off in Ohio on Dec. 9, with Mizzou knocking off Kent State by a 34-12 final. Tonight's match will be streamed live at virginiaduals.org, with updates being posted on the Mizzou wrestling Twitter page, @MizzouWrestling.