Kearney, Neb. – The top-ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos won the last two weights and took three other matches by less than two points to edge third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 18-17, Sunday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The 'Chos (12-0, 3-0 MIAA) remain unbeaten while the Lopers fall to 9-4 (1-1). UNK hosts Newman Monday at 6 p.m. in a dual that was originally scheduled for mid-January.

"When you look at big-time duals, at any level, it's going to come down to three or four matches that are very even. It can also come down to one takedown, one action or even one technique," said UNK head coach Dalton Jensen. "They came out ahead on a couple of those close ones that definitely were the difference."

UCO, which has now won three straight over UNK, managed to grab a 12-4 lead thanks to back-to-back wins in sudden victory. At 141 pounds, fourth-ranked Nate Keim recorded a takedown at 1:07 of the extra session to slip past 11th-ranked Nick James (Kearney H.S.) by a 3-1 score. James had tied things up with less than a minute remaining tanks to an escape. The same scenario played out at the next class as fourth-ranked Brock Filippo was dinged for stalling late in the third, allowing top-ranked Sam Turner (Colorado Springs) to knot things at one apiece. However, Filippo responded with a takedown six seconds into sudden victory. 

The Lopers roared back as veterans Matt Malcom (15-0) and Austin Eldredge (17-0) recorded back-to-back tech falls. Malcom (Glenwood, Ia.), ranked second at 165 pounds, had 10 near fall points to dominate 11th-ranked Hunter Jump with Eldredge (McPherson, Kan.) continuing to impress at his new weight class. He is ranked fifth at 184 pounds with his move to be reflected in the next rankings.

"Coming in, both teams had some studs. A guy like Matt is someone you can count on every time. I didn't think we'd be out of any matches," said Jensen. "On paper you might say we'd lose at 184 and probably win at 149. Those two kind of offset each other so you're left with a bunch of other matches that were going to be decided by a point or so. They came out on more of those than we did."

Newcomer Billy Higgins (Omaha Skutt/U. of Northern Colorado) then got the home folk to its feet with a stunning upset of top-ranked and defending national champion Heath Gray at 184 pounds. He recorded a takedown with seconds left in the second and then started the third with an escape. Higgins, formerly a weight lower, hung on for a 3-2 win.

"That win was big and is good for Billy's confidence. We took a chance (flipping Austin and Billy at 174/184) because we thought that was better for the team," said Jensen. "Now seeing where Billy's at 184, having just take down the champ, and with Austin having teched fall everyone since he's dropped down, so far it looks like its panning out. But we won't know until March."  

Top-ranked Dalton Abbey racked up 3:07 in riding time to win 6-0 at 197 pounds with mid-year transfer Shawn Streck getting past seventh-ranked Lee Herrington (Kearney H.S.) at 285 pounds to secure the dual win. Streck is a one-time Division I qualifier for the Purdue Boilermakers. He used takedown late in the first to go-ahead and then, while up 3-2 and with a stall warning against him, recorded a second takedown as the third period clock was counting down.

"(Streck) was a round or two from placing at Division I nationals a few years ago. He's a pretty impactful guy for them to pickup at semester," said Jensen.

UNK finishes up the regular season Friday night (Feb. 11) at Fort Hays State.