BOSTON, MA – The Rutgers wrestling team's late comeback fell short in an 18-13 loss to Boston University on Saturday at Case Gym in Boston, MA. The loss drops the Scarlet Knights to 5-4 in dual action this season, while the Terriers extend their dual meet victory streak to nine and improve to 12-2 on the season.

Rutgers fell in a deep whole early with BU winning the first three matches at 149, 157 and 165 pounds to open a 9-0 lead.

Rutgers senior Andy Roy (Wall, NJ) put an end to the BU winning streak, while extending his personal winning streak to nine matches with a 9-1 major decision over Warren Haines at 174 pounds. The win improves Roy’s record to 20-1 this season, and more importantly trimmed the Terriers’ lead in the match to five at 9-4.

BU began a new streak however with crucial victories at 184 and 197 pounds to extend its lead to 15-4 with four bouts remaining. Sophomore Dan Cook (Ridgefield, CT) dropped a close, 5-3 decision to BU’s Tom Sforza at 184 in just his third dual match of the season, while junior John Foscolo (South Plainfield, NJ) lost to John DaCruz at 197, 10-6.

Rutgers freshman heavyweight Ramel Meekins (Westwood, NJ) earned a pivotal victory for the Scarlet Knights by defeating Courtney Howard, 6-5, and close BU’s lead to 15-7. With the match tied at 5-5 late in the third period, Meekins scored with an escape with only two seconds remaining.

Momentum quickly returned to the Terriers’ favor with a win at 125 pounds, as BU took an 18-7 lead into the final two matches.

Needing pins in each of the final two bouts to pull out a victory, Rutgers fell short in its quest. The Scarlet Knights did, however, take both matches with senior Dare Ajibade (Bloomfield, NJ) winning at 133 and senior Donnie Defilippis (New Providence, NJ) winning at 141. Defilippis earned a 6-1 triple overtime victory over Joey Rivera to extend his winning streak to five matches. He is now 10-2 on the season.

Rutgers next travels to College Park, MD, for a tri-meet with Maryland and Duke next Saturday, Feb. 7, beginning at noon.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY 18, RUTGERS 13
149 - Rayes Gonzales (BU) def. Greg Austin (RU), 7-6
157 - Zach Johns (BU) def. Jim Rosinski (RU), 4-2
165 - Leighton Brady (BU) def. Chris Ressa (RU), 8-4
174 - Andy Roy (RU) def. Warren Haines (BU), 9-1
184 - Tom Sforza (BU) def. Dan Cook (RU), 5-3
197 - John DaCruz (BU) def. John Foscolo (RU), 10-6
285 - Ramel Meekins (RU) def. Courtney Howard (BU), 6-5
125 - Brett Frimer (BU) def. Dan Hilt (RU), 9-8 1
133 - Dare Ajibade (RU) def. Mike Galorenzo (BU), 7-6
141 - Donnie DeFilippis (RU) def. Joey Rivera (BU) 6-1 3OT