GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines hung tough, but a pair of late wins secured the dual for #1 Nebraska-Kearney as they won 24-14 at Steinhauer Fieldhouse.

The Orediggers (7-1) suffered their first defeat of the season, but gave a great account of themselves winning four matches and staying competitive in several more against the nation's #1-ranked team. The loss snapped an outstanding 10-match win streak for Mines that dated back to last season; the Orediggers matched their best start in program history this year at 7-0.

UNK got off to a flying start with technical falls at 125 and 133 to lead 10-0, but Mines quickly got back into it thanks to Lukas Erickson and Noah Ottum. Erickson had a penalty point in the first period and an escape in the second to shut out JD Rader, 2-0, at 141 pounds, and Ottum's six-point first-period keyed his win over Nick Babcock, 11-6, at 149. Skyler Lykins hung in with #1 Matt Malcom at 157, getting the first takedown before Malcolm took over to win 10-2, but the Orediggers drew close at 165 when Keenan Willits earned a tech fall over Talon Seitz, 19-2, to cut the UNK lead to 14-11.

The 174-pound bout proved to be a terrific one as #5 Zach Stodden needed a last-second takedown to defeat Robert Gambrell 6-4, but Connor Ventura kept Mines alive with an 11-7 decision over Isaac Deaton at 11-7. UNK sealed the dual with wins at 197 by Brady Radik (12-4 over Jake Feldman) and by #5 Jarrod Hinrichs at heavyweight (10-6 over Brandon Saunders).

Mines will next visit Fort Hays State on Thursday night. 
 

---

#1 Nebraska-Kearney 24, Mines 14 [Full Scoring]
125: #2 Josh Portillo (UNK) over Matt Lavengood (Mines) (TF 19-4 6:24) 
133: Wesley Dawkins (UNK) over #12 Noah Au-Yeung (Mines) (TF 18-0 6:26) 
141: Lukas Erickson (Mines) over JD Rader (UNK) (Dec 2-0) 
149: Noah Ottum (Mines) over Nickalas Babcock (UNK) (Dec 11-6) 
157: #1 Matt Malcom (UNK) over Skyler Lykins (Mines) (MD 10-2) 
165: Keenan Willits (Mines) over Talon Seitz (UNK) (TF 19-2 6:34) 
174: #5 Zach Stodden (UNK) over Robert Gambrell (Mines) (Dec 6-4) 
184: Connor Ventura (Mines) over Isaac Deaton (UNK) (Dec 11-7) 
197: Brady Radik (UNK) over Jake Feldman (Mines) (MD 12-4) 
285: #5 Jarrod Hinrichs (UNK) over Brandon Saunders (Mines) (Dec 10-6)