Feb. 1, 2008

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Ohio's Clay Tucker won his fifth straight bout against Virginia Tech but the Bobcats struggled, falling 28-14 to the Hokies on Friday night.

Tucker (Martins Ferry, Ohio) eked out a thin 1-0 victory at 157 pounds against VT's Andre Johnson, the second time this season Tucker had defeated Johnson, to push his winning streak to five straight matches. Tucker's run began on Jan. 11, 2007 when he recorded a technical fall victory, 20-5, against Duquesne's Dan Pauley and includes wins against NIU's Bryan O'Connor (6-4), NC State's Chris Gambino (technical fall, 19-1) and Buffalo's Jon Cummings (4-1).

Following Schuth's win at 184, the Bobcats needed four more bouts to chalk-up their next victory. Quentin Keyes (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) recorded an 18-1 technical fall against the Hokies' Nick Murray. A total of 13 of Keyes' 18 points came in the first period on a series of takedowns and three-point near falls.

Kevin Christensen (Springfield, Ohio) won the third of Ohio's four triumphs with a 5-2 decision against VT's Matt Rosen.

While nine of the ten bouts at Buffalo last weekend resulted in decisions, just five matches were ended in decision at Virginia Tech. The Hokies used three pins and one major decision to distance themselves from the Bobcats despite winning just two more contests than Ohio, six bouts to four. Ohio recorded decisions in three of its four wins.

The Bobcats' dual meet record fell to 5-13 with four straight losses after beating Duquesne 35-15 at the Virginia Duals.

The road does not get any easier for the Bobcats with No. 23 ranked Kent State coming to The Convocation Center on Feb. 8 for Ohio's fourth MAC dual of the season and West Virginia and North Carolina in Athens for back-to-back duals on Feb. 15.

Virginia Tech 28, Ohio 14
174: Eric Decker (VT) fall Ryan Knapp (OU), 1:06
184: Erik Schuth(OU) dec. Eddie Baughan (VT), 8-2
197: D.J. Bruce (VT) dec. Chris Iammarino (OU), 6-4
285: David Marone (VT) dec. Jason Marshall (OU), 8-2
125: Justin Staylor (VT) fall Heath Allen (OU), 1:03
133: Quentin Keyes (OU) TF Nick Murray (VT), 18-1 (3:34)
141: Chris Diaz (VT) fall Germane Lindsey (OU), 5:32
149: Kevin Christensen (OU) dec. Matt Rosen (VT), 5-2
157: Clay Tucker (OU) dec. Andre Johnson (VT), 1-0
165: Matt Epperly (VT) maj. dec. Kent Smith (OU), 15-5

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Joe Waltasti is the wrestling contact for the Ohio Media Relations department. He can be reached via email at waltasti@ohio.edu and in the office at 740-593-0054.