For the second time in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual season, the Southwest Minnesota State University was defeated by criteria by a Top 25 team.
After seeing an 18-9 lead with three bouts remaining evaporate against No. 19 Augustana on Jan. 18, the Mustangs were robbed of the upset by Upper Iowa on Friday in the PE Gym after a pin and decision in the final two bouts tied the dual at 18-18. Upper Iowa took the dual on account of a 35-31 edge in match points.
Travis Peralta scored a 4-0 decision for the Mustangs at 184 to give SMSU an 18-9 lead, but Carl Broghammer answered with a second-period pin of SMSU's Micah Larson in the next match. In the 285-pound bout, Upper Iowa's Jeremy Brazil scored a slim 3-2 decision to tie the bout and earn the victory for the Peacocks (7-4 overall, 4-1 NSIC).
No. 5 Justin Reinsma scored SMSU's first match win of the dual with a 3-2 decision over No. 2 Trevor Franklin at 133, while Jacob Begin used a riding time advantage to pull off an 8-7 upset decision over No. 4 Wade Grobin at 165.
The Mustangs (11-4, 1-3) will hit the road in hopes of removing the bitter taste from their mouths following Friday's defeat. SMSU travels to Mankato to take on No. 10 Minnesota State-Mankato tonight.
Fact Box
Upper Iowa 19, SMSU 18*
125-Chris Paulus (UIU) dec. Travis Borchert, 6-3
133-Justin Reinsma (SMSU) dec. Trevor Franklin, 3-2
141-Ethan Hildebrandt (SMSU) pinned Matt Paulus, 3:57
149-Jordan Rinken (UIU) dec. Beau Buysse, 4-1
157-Codie Lane (SMSU) Bryce Lumzy, 6-4
165-Jacob Begin (SMSU) dec. Wade Gobin, 8-7
174-Blake Sorensen (UIU) dec. Kyle Begin, 9-4
184-Travis Peralta (SMSU) dec. Brock Grobin, 4-0
197-Carl Broghammer (UIU) pinned Micah Larson, 3:42
285-Jeremy Brazil (UIU) dec. Jon Gorter, 3-2
*Upper Iowa wins by criteria - match points 35-31