STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State freshman heavyweight Andrew Marsden hadn't wrestled in a dual meet all year for the Cowboys, but he came up huge Sunday afternoon in the semifinals of the National Duals.
With a trip to the National Duals Finals on the line, Marsden scored a takedown with 14-seconds left in the final period to defeat Illinois' Pat Walker 3-2 and send Oklahoma State into the National Duals Finals with a 19-15.
The No. 1 Pokes will face No. 3 Minnesota in the finals at 6 p.m. Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Marsden, who compiled a 23-2 record in tournaments this season, was forced into action when OSU heavyweight Alan Gelogaev was injured Thursday in his Bedlam match in Norman.
The heavyweight bout started slowly. No one scored in the first period. Marsden picked up an escape in the second period and Walker started the third period with an escape.
Marsden got his shot in the waning seconds and turned it into points.
Oklahoma State had to rally in the final bouts.
Illinois took a 15-13 lead when Tony Delgado pinned OSU's Chris McNeil in the 184-pound bout.
OSU's 197-pounder Blake Rosholt and Illinois' Mario Gonzalez wrestled to a 6-6 tie at the end of regulation. Rosholt picked up a takedown in overtime to pick up an 8-6 decision, giving OSU a 16-15 advantage going into the final bout.
Oklahoma State won six of the 10 bouts against Illinois, but had just one bonus-pointy victory. OSU's Jordan Oliver picked up a 15-1 major decision over B.J. Futrell in the 133-pound bout.
