Feb. 9, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's 10th-ranked sophomore Jake Patacsil did his best to overshadow a tough night for the Boilermakers on Friday, breaking the single-season school record for back points, previously held by his father Frank Patacsil '84, with his 163rd so far this season. However, Purdue fell in its final home dual of the season, dropping a 29-7 decision to ninth-ranked conference rival Illinois.
Patacsil fell behind early in the 149-pound bout to Illini junior Dan Zeman, surrendering a pair of takedowns. Patacsil turned the tide at the 1:08-mark, reversing Zeman and tilting him for a pair of two-point nearfalls to tie and break the school mark for back points. The second frame brought more of the same action as Zeman took Patacsil back to the mat, where Patacsil picked up his 14th reversal of the season and then registered a three-point nearfall to push the count to 12-6 after two. Patacsil took his comfortable position on top in the final frame, tipping Zeman to his back for eight more back points before the referee overanxiously stopped the match in anticipation of a technical fall. After realizing the lead was only 20-6 he restarted the match, but killed the Boilers momentum. Zeman escaped and reeled off two takedowns and a two-point nearfall to take away hopes of the tech fall and force Patacsil to settle for the 23-15 major decision.
The Boilers' misfortune continued over the next six matches as the Illini won five by decision and one by major decision to build a 19-4 lead. Purdue junior Brandon Tucker gave the crowd a surge of life in the 125-pound match, picking up an 8-3 upset victory over Illinois' sixth-ranked junior Gabe Flores and making it 19-7. Flores scored the first takedown of the match, gaining top position with just 48 seconds left in the opening period and riding Tucker out to hold a 2-0 lead. Tucker managed to erase all of his opponent's riding time in the second, holding the top spot for the entire two minutes to keep his deficit at just two and pick up a potential riding-time point. The third and final period was all Tucker as he reversed Flores and forced him to his back for a near pin. Tucker was unable to finish Flores off, but managed to pick up a three-point nearfall and late takedown to grab his second win of the Big Ten slate.
Illinois eighth-ranked freshman Jimmy Kennedy and 12th-ranked senior Cassio Pero righted the ship for the Illini in the final two matches as Kennedy notched an 8-0 major decision and Pero pinned his opponent in 6:34.
The Boilermakers fall to 10-7 overall and 0-7 in conference action, while Illinois improves to 9-1 on the season and 5-1 in conference. Purdue returns to action next Friday as the Boilers head to Evanston, Ill. to face 12th-ranked Northwestern.