GOLDEN, Colo. - Bonus points proved to be crucial for Colorado School of Mines as it upset #21 Adams State 20-18 at Volk Gymnasium on Saturday.

The Orediggers (9-2) received key pins from Zachary Gracia and TJ Shelton, as well as a tech fall by Ethan Ruby and decision by Keenan Willits as they held ASU to only decisions in picking up the team win.

Two days after sealing Mines' dual against New Mexico Highlands with a win, 125-pounder Gracia started things off with a huge momentum boost as he pinned #7 Darek Huff in the second period. After a scoreless first, Huff took down Gracia early in the second, but Gracia managed to stick Huff on his back from the bottom position at 3:41 for the fall.

ASU would make up the gap as Luis Gurule wona  hard-fought 5-3 sudden-victory decision over Noah Au-Yeung at 133, and Dylan Udero and Natrelle Demison won over Taylor Gambill and Noah Ottum, respectively, to give them the 9-6 lead after 149 pounds.

Ruby came out on fire at 157 and absolutely dominated his match with Josh Salas, scoring back points in the first and third periods to win a 17-0 technical fall. That sparked a string of three straight wins for Mines as Willits' 13-6 win over Koery Windham put Mines up 14-9, and then TJ Shelton, trailing Isaac Lopez 3-2 in the second period, worked a takedown to Lopez's back for the pin at 3:34 to give the Orediggers a 20-9 lead.

Mines would drop the final three weight classes but held all to decisions as Connor Ventura was just short of Joe Bencomo, 8-6, in an entertaining 184-pound bout, Richard Bencomo beat Anthony Spallino 5-3 at 197, and Tuli Haulu beat Weston Hunt in an overtime heartbreater, 4-2, with a takedown in sudden victory.

NOTABLES
- The win was Mines' second of the season over a top-25 team after beating #13 Fort Hays State on Nov. 8.
- Mines has had seven of their nine duals this season decided in the final match, including each of their last three; Mines is 6-1 in those duals.
- It was the second time this season that Mines won only four bouts but still took the dual, also doing it in their 19-18 win against Newman at the Midwest Duals.
- Shelton's fall was his sixth of the season. Gracia's was his first of the year.
- Before the meet, Mines honored seniors Ryan Carpenter, Zach Gracia, Matt Lewis, and Ethan Ruby. The Orediggers also presented all-America rings to 2017 graduates John Crowley and Jacob Gerken, and a 2016 RMAC and regional championship ring to Paul Wilson.

NEXT UP
Mines heads to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs next Saturday for the 2018 RMAC Championships.
 

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Colorado School of Mines 20, #21 Adams State 18 [Full Scoring]
125: Zachary Gracia (MINES) over #7 Darek Huff (ASU) (Fall 3:41) 
133: Luis Gurule (ASU) over Noah Au-Yeung (MINES) (SV-1 5-3) 
141: Dylan Udero (ASU) over Taylor Gambill (MINES) (Dec 7-3) 
149: #5 Natrelle Demison (ASU) over Noah Ottum (MINES) (Dec 9-2) 
157: Ethan Ruby (MINES) over Joshua Salas (ASU) (TF 17-0 6:11) 
165: Keenan Willits (MINES) over Koery Windham (ASU) (Dec 13-6) 
174: TJ Shelton (MINES) over Isaac Lopez (ASU) (Fall 3:34) 
184: Joe Bencomo (ASU) over Connor Ventura (MINES) (Dec 8-6)
197: Richard Bencomo (ASU) over Anthony Spallino (MINES) (Dec 5-3)
285: Tuli Laulu (ASU) over Weston Hunt (MINES) (SV-1 4-2)