Hawkeyes and Cowboys wrestle to draw

The University of Iowa's win streak technically might be over at 69 straight duals, but the Hawkeyes' stretch of unbeaten duals continues.

The 10th-ranked Hawkeyes won five matches and had to settle with a 15-15 tie against No. 6 Oklahoma State on Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

The tie is the first for the Hawkeyes since an 18-18 tie with Penn State during the 1992-93 season. It is just the second time in 45 duals between the two storied college wrestling programs that have ended in a draw. The Hawkeyes and Cowboys tied 13-13 during the 1954-55 season.

The Hawkeyes haven't lost in 70 straight duals, dating back to a win over Cornell University on Jan. 12, 2008. Iowa's last loss was a 19-14 dual against Oklahoma State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 5, 2008.

The two teams alternated victories for most of the meet, starting with Iowa's 125-pound defending NCAA champion Matt McDonough's 7-3 win over Jon Morrison. Chris Perry (184) and top-ranked 197-pounder Clayton Foster ended the trend, giving the Cowboys a 15-12 lead behind consecutive two-point wins. Perry rode Iowa's Grant Gambrall the entire second and scored an escape in the third for a 2-0 win. Foster scored takedowns in the first and third periods to beat Luke Lofthouse, 5-3.

The Cowboys outscored the Hawkeyes, 47-42, in match points, owning an advantage in takedowns (13-9) and back points (7-2). The Hawkeyes were in almost every match.

Iowa heavyweight Blake Rasing deadlocked the dual for the fifth and final time, scoring a takedown in sudden victory overtime period to defeat the Cowboys' Blake Rosholt, 3-1.

Mark Ballweg (141) and 174-pounder Ethen Lofthouse scored wins over higher-ranked opponents. Ballweg, 19th by InterMat, rebounded from giving up a quick two-point nearfall to post an 8-3 decision over No. 13 Josh Kindig. Ballweg scored a takedown in the second and added a takedown, two-point nearfall and a point for riding time. Ethen Lofthouse, ranked 16th, scored a takedown in the second, riding No. 10 Benefiel for the remainder of the period and held on for a 4-3. 

Derek St. John scored a late takedown for a 7-5 win against Neil Erisman at 157.

125 -Matt McDonough (I) dec. Jon Morrison, 7-3 (2-1); 133 -Jordan Oliver (OSU) dec. Tyler Clark, 11-4 (4,0); 141 -Mark Ballweg (I) dec. Josh Kindig, 8-3 (2,0); 149 -Jamal Parks (OSU) dec. Matt Ballweg, 8-4 (3,0); 157 - Derek St. John (I) dec. Neil Erisman, 7-5 (3,1); 165 -Dallas Bailey (OSU) dec. Aaron Janssen, 6-2 (1,0); 174 -Ethen Lofthouse (I) dec. Mike Benefiel, 4-3 (1,1); 184 -Chris Perry (OSU) dec. Grant Gambrall, 2-0 (0-0); 197 -Clayton Foster (OSU) dec. Luke Lofthouse, 5-3 (2,0); Hwt. -Blake Rasing (I) dec. Blake Rosholt, 3-1 SV (1,0)

Takedowns - Iowa 9, Oklahoma State 13;

Reversals - Iowa 0, Oklahoma State 0;

Escapes - Iowa 20, Oklahoma State 11;

Nearfall points - Iowa 2, Oklahoma State 7;

Penalty points (awarded) - Iowa 0, Oklahoma State 0;

Match points - Iowa 42, Oklahoma State 47.