CLEVELAND – It's not the route he wanted to take, but Eric Siebert made it to today's NCAA wrestling finals in good shape.

The top-seeded Illini advanced to the 150-pound championship match after being awarded the decisive point in a 5-4 sudden-death overtime victory Friday night when West Virginia's Mike Mason was assessed a penalty point for stalling.

The capacity crowd of 11,989 booed the decision.

"It was a tough call," Siebert said. "I am just glad to be on the receiving end. To be honest, I wish we could have settled the match on our feet because I think we are that close. It would have been nice to see one of us get a takedown to decide it."

In a 30-second sudden death period, if the down man escapes he gets a point and wins. And if the man on top prevents him from escaping for the duration, he is awarded a point and wins.

Siebert crawled around the mat trying to break away from Mason's leg hold, but Mason – hanging on as he was dragged from the center of the mat – was assessed the penalty point for not forcing the issue.

The decision sent Siebert on to the final, where he'll meet third-seeded Chad Kraft of Minnesota. Siebert is 0-3 all-time against Kraft but hasn't faced him this season.

"I wouldn't bet against him," UI coach Mark Johnson said.

The senior, who's been battling a dislocated rib since the Big Ten championships, is attempting to become the UI's first national champ since Ernest Benion in 1995.

"I set the goal of becoming a national champion at the beginning of the year," Siebert said. "It really doesn't matter how it happens. Just advancing is the name of the game, and I'm just happy that I squeezed one out and reached the final."

Siebert, who needed overtime to beat Oklahoma State's Jimmy Arias in the quarterfinal Friday, highlighted a strong day for the Illini.

Jevon Herman (177 pounds), Carl Perry (126) and Karl Roesler (heavyweight) all scored consolation quarterfinal wins Friday night, assuring Illinois of four All-Americans (top eight honored).

That's the school's most since 1948, when five Illini were honored.

"Overall, we had a great day," Johnson said. "You always have your ups and downs, but any time you can walk away from this meet with four All-Americans, you have to be pleased."

With 42 points, Illinois is seventh in the team standings. Defending champ Iowa leads with 90 and will be represented by three former champions in the finals. Top-ranked Oklahoma State is second with 85 points, followed by Minnesota, which has two wrestlers in the finals, with 84 points.