Indiana uses bonus-point run to beat Maryland 26-12
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana scored a string of bonus victories, including a technical fall, a pin and multiple major decisions, to defeat Maryland 26-12 on Jan. 18.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana defeated Maryland 26-12 at Indiana University on Jan. 18, pulling away with a sequence of bonus-point wins that decided the Big Ten dual.
No. 12 Jacob Moran opened the meet with a 20-4 technical fall at 125 pounds, building an early margin with repeated takedowns and a penalty point against his opponent. Moran’s third-period takedowns completed the sequence that produced the technical-fall result.
Maryland answered at 133 when No. 20 Braxton Brown posted a 5-0 decision, using a second-period escape and takedown and a third-period riding-time point to close out the score.
Indiana then mounted the decisive run. Bryce Lowery recorded a fall at 157 to deliver six team points, and No. 24 Tyler Lillard followed with a 19-5 major decision at 165. Sam Goin added a major decision at 184 and Henry Porter produced a major at 141, giving Indiana the bonus cushion it needed.
Maryland narrowed the margin late with a key win at 197, where No. 17 Branson John edged No. 13 Gabe Sollars 4-3 in the dual’s closest match. Joey Schneck closed the card with a decision at heavyweight for Maryland, but the Terps could not overcome Indiana’s bonus production earlier in the lineup.
Five bonus victories supplied 23 of Indiana’s 26 team points, a run that Maryland could not erase despite the upset at 197. The Hoosiers took six of the 10 bouts on the card.
Indiana improved its record in the early portion of the season, while Maryland’s loss left the Terps still seeking a first conference win in Big Ten duals this span. Both schools’ game reports list team records and additional match details from the meet.
The meet featured multiple ranked matchups and several bouts that affected the dual’s trajectory: Moran’s technical fall set the tone, Lowery’s pin and Lillard’s major decision extended Indiana’s lead, and Branson John’s narrow victory at 197 provided Maryland a late rally that fell short.