Cowboys Fall Short Against No. 2 Missouri, 17-16

Oklahoma State's fourth-ranked wrestling team came up just shy of second-ranked Missouri as the Tigers used a major decision in the next to last match of the dual and won, 17-16, before 3,125 fans inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday night.

Oklahoma State dropped to 13-5 on the season, just the fourth five-loss season in school history. Missouri improved to 9-1 on the year and snapped OSU's 21-match home winning streak.

“I did not consider us an underdog,” head coach John Smith said. “You should win in your own house. We had guys standing around and not taking it at their opponents in a one shot scenario. You should be jacked up and wrestling your very best at home.”

The Cowboys got off to a strong start by winning the first three matches and jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the dual. Tyler Shinn scored a couple of reverses after getting the initial takedown, but first he had to fight off a cradle by John Olanowski that yielded three back points. Shinn reversed out of it and scored a second reversal to start the second period and went on to win 11-5.

Coleman Scott avenged an earlier loss to Tyler McCormick. Both wrestlers rode each other out in the second and third periods, but McCormick was whistled for locked hands giving Scott a point and a victory.

Nathan Morgan had no trouble with Ashtin Primus as he scored four takedowns in the first period en route to a major decision. Missouri responded with a major decision of its own at 149 and an overtime victory at 157 to cut the OSU lead to 10-7.

Johny Hendricks gave the Cowboys a six-point advantage with a decision over sixth-ranked Matt Pell. Pell scored the first takedown just five minutes into the match, but Hendricks took over after that. Hendricks scored the next four takedowns and won 12-7 to extend his winning streak to 49 matches.

The Cowboys were big underdogs at the next three weight classes. Ben Askren and Max Askren both recorded falls in the last meeting, but Brandon Mason scored a takedown against Askren to take the lead in the first period. Askren rallied over the next two periods, but Mason was still within a takedown. Askren fought off Mason and held on to win by a narrow decision, 9-6.

The pivotal match in the dual turned out to be 184. Jack Jensen wrestled fifth-ranked Raymond Jordan to a one-point match in the previous dual. It was again a one-point match in the third period with Jensen needing a takedown. He could not get it and Missouri tied the dual at 13.

Missouri won the dual at 197 with Max Askren securing a major decision over Jared Shelton. The Cowboys needed bonus points in the heavyweight match to pull off the upset. Jared Rosholt tried to put Mark Ellis on his back, but was unsuccessful as he came away with a decision. And the Tigers held on for a one-point dual victory.

OSU closes out the regular season at home against bedlam rival Oklahoma on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.

No. 2 Missouri 17, No.4 Oklahoma State 16

Gallagher-Iba Arena * Stillwater, Okla. * Attn: 3,125

125- #19 Tyler Shinn (OSU) Dec. John Olanowski (MU); 11-5

133- #4 Coleman Scott (OSU) Dec. #8 Tyler McCormick (MU); 1-0

141- #4 Nathan Morgan (OSU) MDec. Ashtin Primus (MU), 14-5

149- #9 Josh Wagner (MU) MDec. Dakotah Simpson (OSU); 15-4

157- Nick Marable (MU) Dec. Newly McSpadden (OSU); 4-2

165- #1 Johny Hendricks (OSU) Dec. #6 Matt Pell (MU); 12-7

174- #1 Ben Askren (MU) Dec. #13 Brandon Mason (OSU); 9-6

184- #5 Raymond Jordan (MU) Dec. Jack Jensen (OSU); 5-3

197- #1 Max Askren (MU) MDec. Jared Shelton (OSU); 12-4

285- #12 Jared Rosholt (OSU) Dec. Mark Ellis (MU); 3-1

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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