SIU Edwardsville routs Kent State 31-3 behind three bonus wins
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — SIU Edwardsville used a string of bonus-point victories — including a major decision by No. 3 Caleb Tyus and a technical fall by Bryson Buhk — to beat Kent State 31-3 on Jan. 24, 2026.
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — SIU Edwardsville rolled to a 31-3 victory over Kent State on Jan. 24, paced by multiple bonus-point results that created an early and insurmountable lead.
No. 3 Caleb Tyus provided one of the biggest swings with an 18-6 major decision at 149 pounds, a four-team-point outcome that helped put SIUE well ahead. Deron Pulliam added a 13-4 major decision at 184 for another four-point swing, and Bryson Buhk closed the dual with an 18-3 technical fall at heavyweight that counted for five team points.
Those three bonus wins produced 13 team points and formed the backbone of the Panthers’ margin of victory. SIUE also picked up decisions and late bonus scoring across the card to keep pressure on Kent State throughout the dual.
Several matches were tight for Kent State. Blake Schaffer delivered the Golden Flashes’ lone victory with a 4-2 decision at 197. Two bouts went beyond regulation: Drew Davis edged Nico Calello 3-2 in the first tiebreaker at 125, and Dominic Lopez’s takedown in sudden victory gave SIUE a 7-4 win at 174.
SIUE’s lineup included ranked contributors beyond Tyus. No. 23 Marcel Lopez provided an 8-3 decision at 133, and No. 30 Brock Woodcock held on for a 10-8 decision at 165. Those results added to an overall team balance that kept Kent State from mounting a comeback.
Individual sequences swung several bouts. At 141, Alec Peralta’s string of third-period takedowns produced a 10-4 decision and helped extend SIUE’s advantage on the board. At 157, Hayden Whidden converted a late takedown and a riding-time point to finish 5-1. At 165, Woodcock built an early lead with a first-period nearfall and survived a second-period rally to preserve the decision.
SIUE closed the dual on senior day with Buhk’s technical fall securing the final margin. The Cougars celebrated multiple senior honorees following the meet.
Kent State will return home to begin a stretch of MAC Center meets, while SIU Edwardsville improves its dual resume with the lopsided road result in Edwardsville.