Cain Wins; Duke Falls to No. 9 Nebraska

Saturday, November 22

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Nebraska

Cain Wins; Duke Falls to No. 9 Nebraska

11/22/2014 3:48:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University redshirt senior Marcus Cain captured his 10th victory of the season and seventh straight this afternoon with a thrilling 8-2 decision over Justin Arthur as ninth-ranked Nebraska bested the Blue Devils 45-3. The Big Ten foe was the first of four the Blue Devils will face this season.

“I felt like our guys were a little tentative,” said head coach Glen Lanham. “We didn't get to our offense a lot. We were counter wrestlers out there today and I think that hurt us in a lot of our matches.”

The Blue Devils were forced to forfeit a pair of matches at 125 and 174, giving Nebraska the 12-0 lead from the start. The Huskers got six more points from a pin against true freshman Bailey Jack and a major decision at 141 pounds from No. 15 Anthony Abidin to stretch the lead to 22-0.

With a No. 20 ranking on the line, Cain stepped on to the mat against 2014 NCAA Qualifier Justin Arthur at 149 pounds. Cain attacked from the opening whistle with an early takedown in the first period for a 2-0 lead. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native was outstanding on top, finishing the period with well over a minute of riding time and control of the match.

In the second period, Arthur tied the match, but it was all Cain down the stretch as he scored six unanswered for the 8-2 victory.

Classmate Immanuel Kerr-Brown, up against second-ranked James Green, gave the reigning Big Ten champion all he could handle. Trailing 2-1 late in the second period, Kerr-Brown finished with a flurry of action as he escaped to tie the match and ten scored a takedown in the final seconds to head into the final two minutes leading 4-2.

“[Marcus and Immanuel both had strong performances] and that's why we bring guys like Nebraska in here. People ask me all the time why we're bringing in a team like Nebraska. We have to give our guys opportunities to go to nationals. People are going to look at [Immanuel Kerr-Brown's] match and Marcus' match and that's what's going to get our guys over the top.”

The pair traded points in the third period, but Green seemed to always answer the Duke captain's escapes with a takedown en route to the 12-7 decision. The loss was just Kerr-Brown's second of the year, both of which came against ranked opponents.

The Huskers finished the afternoon strong, scoring bonus points in each of the final four bouts of the afternoon. Redshirt freshman Spencer Neff made his debut in a Duke singlet at 197 pounds, battling Micah Barnes in a 17-5 major decision.

Duke takes a short break from competition before heading to the hometown of Kerr-Brown and Randy Roden to wrestle against Shorter University. The dual is set to start at 7:30 p.m.

125: No. 14 Tim Lambert (N) wins by forfeit	Neb. 6, Duke 0
133: Eric Montoya (N) fall Bailey Jack (D), 2:20	Neb. 12, Duke 0
141: No. 15 Anthony Abidin (N) major dec. Brandon Gambucci (D), 14-3	Neb. 16, Duke 0
149: No. 20 Marcus Cain (D) dec. Justin Arthur (N), 8-2	Neb. 16, Duke 3
157: No. 2 James Green (N) dec. No. 19 Immanuel Kerr-Brown (D), 12-7	Neb. 19, Duke 3
165: No. 17 Austin Wilson (N) major dec. Jake Faust (D), 14-4	Neb. 22, Duke 3
174: No. 2 Robert Kokesh (N) wins by forfeit	Neb. 28, Duke 3
184: No. 16 TJ Dudley (N) fall Jacob Kasper (D)	Neb. 34, Duke 3
197: Micah Barnes (N) major dec. Spencer Neff (D)	Neb. 39-Duke 3
285: No. 15 Collin Jensen (N) fall Brendan Walsh (D)	Neb. 45, Duke 3