PISCATAWAY — Rutgers was forced to try some new things with its lineup but still got a familiar result.
With a new starting position and a new 157-pounder Sunday, Rutgers remained unbeaten in five matches at home this season by toppling Indiana, 25-9, in front of a Super Bowl Sunday matinee crowd at Rutgers Athletics Center.
The Scarlet Knights (11-3, 5-2) are 4-0 at the RAC this season — plus a win at High Point Solutions Stadium — and have won five straight in the basketball arena dating to last season.
“Even when it’s not totally packed and sold out, we still have really enthusiastic fans that are cheering their butts off and getting more educated about the sport every time we come out,” 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault said. “It’s really fun to wrestle in front of these crowds. Every time I’m here, it’s a chance to put on a show and show people how good I am.”
Ashnault earned his fourth pin of the season on his 21-3 record, needing 90 seconds to get Cole Weaver into a cradle and onto his back at 141 pounds. Ashnault literally was standing on his head when the referee awarded the six points to put Rutgers ahead 19-6.
“I was going to cut him and let him get to his feet, but I saw an opportunity,” Ashnault said. “It’s just like a near-side cradle, but I got so excited when I locked it up that I jumped after it. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I got the pin.”
Rutgers hoops history: 10 takeaways
Ken Theobold trailed 1-0 late in the second period before a takedown and four-point near fall swung momentum at 149. He finished off a 7-1 decision that clinched victory for Rutgers.
Under a seldom-implemented NCAA rule, either coach can ask to draw a random starting weight rather than agreeing to start at 125 and finish at heavyweight. Indiana’s Duane Goldman made the call.
“It was cool to start at a heavier weight,” Ashnault said. “I had a little more pop up going out there. I didn’t get over-anxious at all. I was kind of calm waiting for my turn to go shine.”
Jordan Pagano led off the first of two matches in two days with a 2-0 win at 174. Pagano, who replaced Phil Bakuckas as the starter three matches ago, scored a first-period takedown and kept No. 17 Devin Statzka off the scoreboard for the upset.
In a matchup of All-American hopefuls, Indiana’s No. 7 Nate Jackson edged 13 Nick Gravina, 5-4. Gravina was shooting for a single leg in the final seconds of the first period but Jackson off and the missed scoring opportunity made a difference.
With the top two wrestlers for Indiana (9-6, 2-5) finished for the day and the score tied 3-3, Rutgers got on a roll.
Anthony Ashnault – Cradle, Pin, SIX! #RelentlessPursuit https://t.co/Y3limjkHUz
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) February 5, 2017
Matt Correnti was headed toward a shutout decision until he scored a takedown late in the third period. Combined with one point for riding time, Correnti sealed a 10-0 win and a major decision with the match’s first bonus points.
Before the lineup turned over, Razohnn Gross, who seems to be deadlocked in the final seconds of every low-scoring bout, defeated Fletcher Miller, 3-1, with a takedown in sudden victory.
Rutgers took a 10-3 lead into 125-pounder Brandon Paetzell’s bout but the usual energizer never got it going in an 8-3 loss heading into the intermission. Indiana’s only other victory came at 165.
Scott DelVecchio’s 4-2 win at 133 preceded Ashnault’s dominance.
With the outcome sealed, Rutgers turned to Anthony Giraldo — who fell behind Theobold after the two alternated at 149 earlier this season — at 157 and kept No. 14 John Van Brill on the sideline.
Giraldo, who wrestled at 133 last season, weighed in at 154.8 pounds pre-match. A third-period takedown allowed him to rally to an 8-7 victory.
Rutgers football alums Kevin Malast, Jamaal Westerman and Mike Teel — all three of whom played in the NFL or were drafted — looked on from front row seats on the hardwood after leading the crowd in a pregame R-U chant.
Rutgers wrestling team will miss part of the Super Bowl because it has an evening flight to Ohio State for Monday’s rescheduled match.
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
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