Brittany Bott / Staff Photographer / bb211605@ohiou.edu

It was the same story on a different day for Ohio in its Mid-American Conference dual meet with No. 20 Kent State Friday night. Clay Tucker picked up his sixth straight win, but the Bobcats fell 33-3, extending their losing streak to five.

In the final contest of the day, Tucker averted the shutout for his team in the 157-pound division. He picked up a takedown and a near-fall in the first period and cruised to a 7-1 victory, his fourth over a MAC opponent.

After spending the earlier part of the year shifting between the 149-pound and the 157-pound weight classes, Tucker said he’s felt more comfortable on the mat since he and Ohio coach Joel Greenlee decided to stick with the 157-pound spot.

“I was a little nervous at the beginning of the season about bumping up a weight class,” he said. “But I think it was the right thing to do, and I’m feeling a lot better when I’m out there wrestling. I’m having fun.”

Instead of concerning himself with his weight, Tucker said the 157-pound division allows him to train harder.

“I’m able to get more done in the practice room,” he said.

The other six matches have not been as kind to the rest of the Ohio roster.

The Golden Flashes jumped out to a 12-0 lead — much more than they would need — with three major decisions in the 165-pound, 174-pound and 184-pound weight classes.

The Bobcats got their best shots before Tucker’s win in the 197-pound and 141-pound divisions with the efforts of Chris Iammarino and Germane Lindsey, respectively. Iammarino battled Michael Blackwell to a 5-5 tie at the end of regulation but was taken down in the first 20 seconds of overtime.

Lindsey’s match played out in almost the same fashion. After Kent’s Drew Lashaway, ranked 18th in the nation, gave up a point for stalling in the last moments of regulation to tie the match, he picked up a takedown on Lindsey within the first 20 seconds of overtime to avoid the upset.

As freshmen, Iammarino said there was a certain satisfaction in competing that well against more mature opponents. He added that he felt confident that the outcomes will start to change with the more times he is in such situations.

“It’s just a matter of experience,” he said. “I haven’t had many overtime matches, and (Lindsey) hasn’t. We weren’t really sure where to go with our offense. In the future, (Lindsey) and I can win those matches. It’s a matter of time.”

Greenlee seemed to share Iammarino’s sentiments. He said he felt that, despite another loss, the Bobcats are making progress.

“The score might not look like it,” he said, “but I think we’re close.”