MARSHALL, Minn. – The Minnesota State Moorhead wrestling team battled back from an early 13-0 deficit to climb within one but came up short against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, dropping a 20-15 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual in Marshall, Minn.

MSUM fell to 8-8 overall and 3-5 in the NSIC with the loss, while SMSU improved to 13-6 overall and 3-5 in the league.

“It was a hard-fought dual,” MSUM head coach Kris Nelson said. “I thought we wrestled hard.”

Freshman Mitch Dunlap won by fall for MSUM, while sophomore Philippe Walker beat the No. 8-ranked wrestler in the nation, Justin Reinsma, at 133 pounds. Sophomore Gerad Fugleberg improved to 17-13 with a win at 285, while senior Jacob Bennett claimed a win at 157 for the Dragons.

The match started at 165 pounds, and SMSU won the first four matches, including one by major decision, to take a 13-0 lead.

Fugleberg stopped the streak with a win by decision at 285, topping Jon Gorter 5-0, to bring MSUM within 13-3.

“Gerad's doing a good job,” Nelson said. “He's feeling good going into the regional.”

Dunlap brought MSUM within 13-9 with his pin over SMSU's Ed Reno in 7:38. The match was tied after three periods but Dunlap got the takedown in overtime and finished off the pin.

“That was a big win for Mitch and for the team,” Nelson said. “That got us back into the dual.”

Walker cut the Mustang lead in the dual to 13-12 with a 6-4 win over Reinsma, who was ranked No. 8 in the nation.

“Philippe wrestled a great match,” Nelson said.

SMSU won the next two matches – including one by major decision – to push the lead in the dual to 20-15. Bennett finished off the dual on a positive note for MSUM with an 8-7 win at 157 over SMSU's Codie Lane.

“Bennett picked up a good win and wrestled very hard,” Nelson said.

MSUM competes at the NCAA Super Regional 3 meet in Waterloo, Iowa, on Feb. 24.

SMSU 20, MSUM 15
165-Jacob Begin (SMSU) dec. Kerron Williams (MSUM), 7-1
174-Kyle Begin (SMSU) maj. dec. Jesse Puncochar (MSUM), 12-1
184-Travis Peralta (SMSU) dec. Lucas Moderow (MSUM), 12-5
197-Micah Larson (SMSU) dec. Matt Lewellen (MSUM), 9-4
285-Gerad Fugleberg (MSUM) dec. Jon Gorter (SMSU), 5-0
125-Mitch Dunlap (MSUM) pinned Ed Reno (SMSU), 7:38
133-Philippe Walker (MSUM) dec. Justin Reinsma (SMSU), 6-4
141-Devin Terry (SMSU) dec. Angel Vega (MSUM), 6-5
149-Beau Buysse (SMSU) maj. dec. Connor MacGregor (MSUM), 11-2
157-Jacob Bennett (MSUM) dec. Codie Lane (SMSU), 8-7