CHAMPAIGN – Michigan's wrestlers have been dealing with adversity all season.

First it was the death of teammate Jeff Reese while trying to drop weight. Then athletic director Tom Goss threatened to drop the program before several changes were adopted by the NCAA on Jan. 13.

On Saturday, head coach Dale Bahr missed Michigan's dual meet against Illinois at Huff Hall because of the death of his father.

Assistant coach Joe McFarland was in charge.

"It's been a difficult season for the whole team," heavyweight Airron Richardson said.

Michigan's mood lightened, though, before it left town. The 15th-ranked Wolverines got late wins from Richardson and 190-pounder Ryan Balcom to upend No. 11 Illinois 19-15 in a Big Ten Conference thriller.

"I think this win will be a reflection of our character. We're not ready to throw in the towel," Richardson said. "We are much closer today than we were at the start of the season."

Michigan trailed 15-13 before Balcom beat the UI's Pat Quirk 7-4, setting up the decisive bout between Richardson, the second-ranked heavyweight in the nation, and fifth-ranked Karl Roesler.

Richardson's reversal at the outset of the second overtime made for a 4-2 win. The win in the 30-second session goes to the wrestler who escapes or the one who keeps the other from escaping. Richardson chose the down position after winning the toss.

"This was a real barn-burner," McFarland said. "I'm real proud of the way these kids came through. They wrestled with a lot of emotion. This was a big step forward for us. Ryan Balcom did a heck of a job. His opponent came at him and he took advantage of it."

Balcom and Richardson said the many problems encountered this season have bonded team members.

"We are focused on our goals," Balcom said, "and everyone is doing what is best for the team."

Illini coach Mark Johnson agreed the 190-pound match was pivotal as his team lost for the second straight time at home to fall to 6-2.

"That was my one disappointment in the meet," Johnson said. "I know he's (Quirk) only a freshman. Still, you can't lose a match like that where you are heavily favored. A win there cinches the meet for us.

"It was a great collegiate meet," he added. "We did everything we were supposed to do except for the one match. We won the matches we were supposed to win. We got the major decisions (Carl Perry at 126, Adam Tirapelle at 142 and Eric Siebert at 150) where we needed them."