North Dakota State 23, Air Force 14

No. 19 NDSU Closes Strong to Turn Back Air Force 23-14 for Big 12 Road Win

USAFA, Colo.—No. 19-ranked North Dakota State overcame a slow start and won six of the final seven bouts to turn back the Air Force Academy 23-14 in a Big 12 Conference dual on Sunday, Dec. 9, in Clune Arena.

NDSU (4-1, 3-1 #Big12WR) is scheduled to host Oregon State at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, in the Scheels Center.

The middleweights helped to turn the tide for North Dakota State. Trailing 14-7, Jaden Van Maanen (11-4, 4-1) grinded out a 4-1 decision over No. 24 Alex Opsal at 149 pounds for the Bison.

Then, NDSU 157 Nick Knutson (6-7, 2-3) gained a reversal with under 5-seconds remaining in the third period for an 8-6 decision over Alex Mossing. The pair entered the third tied at 4-4. Knutson recorded a takedown with 38-seconds left, but Mossing claimed a reversal with 10-seconds left. That cut the deficit to 14-13

Enter North Dakota State No. 17-ranked 165 Andrew Fogarty, who established himself early and then recorded his fourth pin of the season over Marcus Amico at 1:59. Fogarty bounced from Friday’s loss to improve to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in duals.

NDSU sealed the win when 174-pounder Lorenzo De La Riva (9-6, 2-3) scored 16 unanswered points in a 16-2 major decision over Randy Menewether.

Air Force (1-2, 1-1 #Big12WR) came out strong and won the first three bouts including a pin at 30-seconds from heavyweight Kayne Hutchison to take a 12-0 lead.

North Dakota State No. 8 125-pounder Brent Fleetwood (13-2, 5-0) stopped Sidney Flores 5-0, while No. 17 133-pounder Cam Sykora (12-2, 4-0) posted a 13-2 major decision over John Twomey. Fleetwood and Van Maanen were the only two Bison to win twice over the weekend.

Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018
Clune Arena / USAFA, Colo.

#19 North Dakota State 23, Air Force 14
184—Tyler Wiederholt (AFA) dec Tyler McNutt (NDSU), 4-2
197—Andy McLaughlin (AFA) sudden victory-1 #20 Cordell Eaton (NDSU), SV-1 10-4
285—Kayne Hutchison (AFA) fall #24 Brandon Metz (NDSU), 0:33
125—#8 Brent Fleetwood (NDSU) dec Sidney Flores (AFA), 5-0
133—#17 Cam Sykora (NDSU) major dec John Twomey (AFA), MD 13-2
141—Garrett O’Shea (AFA) dec Gavin Sutton (NDSU), 6-1
149—Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) dec #24 Alec Opsal (AFA), 4-1
157—Nick Knutson (NDSU) dec Alex Mossing (AFA)
165—#17 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) fall Marcus Amico (AFA), 1:59
174—Lorenzo De La Riva (NDSU) major dec Randy Menewether (AFA)
AFA deducted team point, bench misconduct
Dual started at 184 pounds

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