OKLAHOMA CITY -- What a difference a week makes for the OU wrestling team as the Sooners won two matches over the weekend.

Taking part of ESPNU's Double Sport Invitational, OU defeated Hofstra, 26-15, Sunday afternoon at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

"For the most part, it was a good win," head coach Jack Spates said. "Our guys came to wrestle. I think our guys were a little tired, traveling to Nebraska and having to come right back. Overall, I'm pleased with our effort today."

The 11th-ranked Sooners used the home crowd and early aggression to take a commanding 23-3 lead with four matches remaining.

The Ford Center will be the site for the national championships in March.

"It was great to wrestle here," junior Sam Hazewinkel said. "This is how it'll be for the national finals. We were real fortunate to wrestle in front of the home crowd, and I'm happy to have it here."

Hazewinkel made some history of his own by recording his 100th career victory when he scored a fall in the first match of the dual.

His roommate, senior Teyon Ware, also notched a technical fall against 12th-ranked Hofstra sophomore Charles Griffin.

"This is Teyon's state," Spates said. "He wrestled tremendously against a very tough opponent."

Ware has won his last four matches since losing his only match of the year against Iowa State's Nate Gallick.

After falling short in their first three conference duals, the Sooners pulled out the upset victory over the No. 4-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, 19-16, Friday night in Lincoln, Neb.

Sparking the win were two upset victories. At 197, junior Joel Flaggert defeated second-ranked Husker B.J. Padden, 6-2. Also, at 157, freshman Will Rowe overcame a 5-0 deficit to score a major decision against No. 15-ranked Husker Chris Oliver, 15-6.

"We came in and dug ourselves a big hole to start with but our boys battled back and came up with a big win," Spates said.

It was OU's first conference dual win since defeating Missouri back in February 2005.

In the main event of the Double Sport Invitational Sunday, the No. 1-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers overcame a huge crowd disadvantage to knock off the No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys, 19-16.

Gopher junior heavyweight and No. 1-ranked Cole Konrad scored in sudden death over Cowboy senior No. 2-ranked Steve Mocco to win the match, 3-1, and give Minnesota the victory.

Up next for OU will be the Cowboys in part two of the annual Bedlam series.

OSU defeated OU, 23-12, in December in Stillwater.

Sunday's match will be a home match for the Sooners as the action will take place at the Field House.
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