COLUMBUS, OH - The University at Buffalo wrestling team was an overtime loss away from perfection at the Buckeye Duals at Ohio State on Saturday.

Buffalo's only loss of the day came at the hands of Indiana by a 19-16 score with two crucial matches decided in overtime that spelled the difference between winning and losing. The Hoosiers would go a perfect 4-0 on the day, with the Bulls giving them their only scare as IU also defeated Duke (41-3), Clarion (26-12) and Northern Illinois (28-11) as the only unbeaten team on the day. Other participants included #5 Ohio State and #24 Cleveland State.

Buffalo won its other matches convincingly, defeating Tennessee-Chattanooga, 31-15, hammering Eastern Illinois, 41-3 and downing Drexel by a 25-10 score. The Bulls were paced by outstanding performances by senior Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson) and freshman heavyweight Tom Curl (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) .

Cooper continued his stellar senior season and moved closer towards eclipsing the all-time victory mark at UB. Cooper improved to 19-4 overall, and a perfect 6-0 mark in dual meets this season, with an unbeaten day, including his 11th career dual-meet fall over Clay French of Eastern Illinois. Cooper now has 98 career wins, just four shy of Josh States' career mark of 102.

Curl also had an outstanding day, posting two wins by fall and downing Indiana's Joel Powers, 2-1, in overtime with a takedown in the extra session.

Four other Bulls claimed three victories on the day: sophomore Dave Edwards (Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY/Cornwall); sophomore Labe Black (Ventnor, NJ/Absegami) at 157 pounds, including his eighth career dual-meet pin versus Drexel; sophomore Tom Paladino (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage) at 165pounds; senior Garrett Bontempo (DuBois, PA/DuBois) at 184 pounds and sophomore Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) at 197 pounds.

Bontempo and Cerminara's only losses on the day came in overtime versus Indiana opponents and they each recorded their first career dual-meet falls versus Tennessee-Chattanooga. Bontempo's only loss was to IU's Ty Matthews, who was able to take him down in the extra session. Cerminara, meanwhile, lost his rematch with Indiana's Pat DeGain (they met in the NCAA Championships last March) when DeGain scored an escape in overtime. DeGain is currently ranked 10th in the country.

Also in the Indiana match, Buffalo's Adam Grillo (Albion, NY/Holley) dropped a 13-5 decision to Coyte Cooper, currently ranked No. 6 in the nation at 141 pounds.

The Bulls will host American University at Alumni Arena on Thursday, January 9 at 7 pm.

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Buffalo 38, Chattanooga 9

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

125 Mark Budd UB D Adam Rains 7-2

133 Mike Trotta UB D Ben Smith 9-0

141 Jared Sullivan UTC F Adam Grillo :28

149 Dave Edwards UB F Jacob Harris 4:14

157 Labe Black UB D Quentin Bell 5-4

165 Craig Johnson UTC D Tom Paladino 3-2

174 Gary Cooper UB MD Quantel Lanford 13-3

184 Garrett Bontempo UB F Brandon Artiles 3:39

197 Kyle Cerminara UB F Drew Roberts 1:33

Hwt Tom Curl UB F Matt Seaburg :42

Indiana 19, Buffalo 16

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

125 Joe DuBuque IU TF Mark Budd 25-9

133 Greg Schaefer IU MD Mike Trotta 13-2

141 Coyte Cooper IU MD Adam Grillo 13-5

149 Dave Edwards UB MD Matt Cooper 17-4

157 Labe Black UB D Mike Engberg 6-2

165 Tom Paladino UB D Alex LaPointe 3-2

174 Gary Cooper UB D Brady Richardson 10-8

184 Ty Matthews IU D Garrett Bontempo 6-4/OT

197 Pat DeGain IU D Kyle Cerminara 2-1/OT

Hwt Tom Curl UB D Joel Powers 2-1/OT

Buffalo 41, Eastern Illinois 3

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

125 Mike Sebaaly UB MD Dexter Wright 17-4

133 Mike Trotta UB D Pat Douty 6-3

141 Cliff Smith UB D Mike Stanley 3-2

149 Dave Edwards UB MD Jared Bruner 14-4

157 Andy Coyle EIU D Labe Black 13-9

165 Tom Paladino UB Forfeit

174 Gary Cooper UB F Clay French 2:17

184 Garrett Bontempo UB D Josh Lepper 8-2

197 Kyle Cerminara UB Forfeit

Hwt Tom Curl UB F Pete Ziminski 1:38

Buffalo 25, Drexel 10

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

125 Mike Sebaaly UB D Dan Stewart 8-7

133 Joe Cristaldi DU MD Mike Trotta 10-2

141 Cliff Smith UB D Bill Herverly 6-2

149 Mark Cartella DU D Dave Edwards 13-8

157 Labe Black UB F Mike Demaio 1:32

165 Tom Paladino UB D Matt Briemza 4-3

174 Gary Cooper UB D Carl Schmidt 9-6

184 Garrett Bontempo UB D Pat Shufelt 10-8

197 Kyle Cerminara UB MD John Caprio 13-1

Hwt Mike Carroll DU D Tom Curl 4-3