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Bulls Blinded by Golden Flashes, 31-7

Mark Budd

The Bulls are currently riding a five-match losing streak (each of which came against conference) as they drop to 7-7 on the season. The 0-5 record marks the first time since joining the MAC in 1998 that Buffalo was unable to capture a conference win. The MAC-leading Golden Flashes (14-2, 3-0 MAC) took eight matches in part due to their seven nationally-ranked grapplers, each of whom captured wins.

Redshirt freshman Dan Bishop (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) landed the first punch in the meet by scoring an early takedown against nationally 18th-ranked Chad Sportelli. Unfortunately, Sportelli's experience would allow him to score key takedowns and score over two minutes of riding time to win, 9-3.

Mike Ragusa

At 133 pounds, Mark Budd continued to plow past conference foes, cementing a perfect 5-0 MAC record with a 9-0 against Danny Mitcheff. On senior day, Budd shutout Mitcheff for his 99th career victory and is in line to earn his monumental 100th win at Binghamton next weekend. The feat has been reached by only three others in UB lore. Budd remains undefeated in dual meet action (14-0).

Junior Mike Ragusa also won over the crowd at Alumni Arena Friday night by ending his five-match losing streak against Sli Bostelman, 8-4. Ragusa landed three takedowns in all, winning his first match at home since the home opener on Nov. 18 against Princeton.

141-pounder Andrew Stella (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) was prevented of his first-ever conference win against Drew Lashaway, 10-4. The redshirt freshman scored four escapes in the hard-fought match and is now three shy of the UB single-season escapes record held by Mark Crays (1990-91).

The second senior on the Bulls starting roster, 184-pounder Ray Lamb (Vineland, NJ/Absegami) was within seconds of forcing an overtime bout with nationally 20th-ranked Eric Chine. Both competitors entered the final stanza with Lamb ahead, 1-0. With it being Kent State's choice, Chine chose the down position and earned a escape to lock the score at 1-1. With time winding down, Chine closed in and scored a takedown with :02 left in the match to take the decision, 3-1.

Nationally 19th-ranked Jermail Porter bullied heavyweight Jason Weber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) with a 8-3 decision. Porter allowed Weber to score three escapes, but immediately hammered down on Weber with three takedowns. The Kent State heavyweight was Weber's third-straight nationally-ranked opponent faced in as many meets, earning a record of 1-2 in that span.

Buffalo journeys to the Southern Tier to tangle with Binghamton University on Saturday, February 17 in its final dual meet of the 2006-07 season. The Bulls will look to land their 16th win over the Bearcats in 20 lifetime meetings, as well as build momentum heading into the Mid-American Conference Championships to be held at UB's Alumni Arena on March 3-4. Saturday's meet is scheduled for 7 p.m.

#25 Kent State 31, Buffalo 7
Feb. 9, 2007 • Buffalo, NY
125 - Sportelli (KSU) dec. Bishop (UB), 9-3
133 - Budd (UB) maj. dec. Mitcheff (KSU), 9-0
141 - Lashaway (KSU) dec. Stella (UB), 10-4
149 - McGee (KSU) maj. dec. Hilliard (UB), 14-1
157 - Gross (KSU) pinned Hunt (UB) at 4:47
165 - Ragusa (UB) dec. Bostelman (KSU), 8-4
174 - Miller (KSU) dec. Rock (UB), 6-3
184 - Chine (KSU) dec. Lamb (UB), 3-1
197 - Ramadani (KSU) won by forfeit
285 - Porter (KSU) dec. Weber (UB), 8-3