Bulls and #25 Pride Grapple to a 16-16 Draw

HEMPSTEAD, NY – The University at Buffalo wrestling team rallied to tie #25 Hofstra University, 16-16, at the David S. Mack Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. Facing a 3-0 deficit with only 15 seconds remaining in the 141-pound bout, freshman Andrew Schutt scored on a late reversal and a three-point nearfall to lead the Bulls' rally while recording his first dual victory.

The Pride held a 16-13 lead with one bout remaining at 141 between Schutt and the Pride's Tyler Banks. Following scoreless back-to-back periods, Banks took an early 1-0 lead with an escape. The match came down to the final 16 seconds as Banks scored on a takedown to extend his lead. Trailing 3-0, Schutt quickly picked up a reversal just three seconds later to pull within one. With only five seconds remaining, Schutt managed to pick up three back points for the decision. Banks collected riding time to bring the final of the bout to 5-4.

The opening match of the day at 149 featured two nationally-ranked wrestlers, #16 Desi Green and #20 Justin Accordino of Hofstra. On the bottom, Green escaped from Accordino's grip for a 3-2 lead. The sophomore was able to hold on for the decision to give the Bulls' a 3-0 lead.

In the next four bouts, the Pride built up a 13-3 lead as they captured three consecutive decisions at 157, 165 and 174 followed by a major decision at 184.

At 197, 20th nationally-ranked Jimmy Hamel brought Hofstra's win streak to an end as he defeated the Pride's Anthonty Tortora in 8-6 decision. The Bulls continued to erase the Pride's lead as sophomore Brett Correll recorded a 5-3 decision over Hofstra's Paul Snyder in his first dual meet of the season.

Facing a 16-9 deficit, sophomore Kevin Smith closed the gap with a technical fall victory of 22-7 at 6:56 over Jeff Rotella in the 131-pound bout. Smith tallied 11 takedowns including five escapes in his decisive technical fall to rally his team within three points of the Pride, 16-13.

The last time Buffalo ended a dual in a tie came in the 2007-08 season. On December 15, Buffalo tied Bloomsburg, 17-17

The Bulls will return to action Saturday, November 21 as they travel to Ithaca, NY to compete in the Body Bar Invitational at 9:00 am on the campus of Cornell University.