MOORHEAD, Minn. -- In a dual that came down to the final match, the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team came up just short against Southwest Minnesota State, falling to the Mustangs, 19-15 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Thursday night in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 5-6 overall and 2-2 in the NSIC, while SMSU improved to 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the NSIC.

The Dragons won four matches on the night, highlighted by a pin from junior Conner Monk at 174 pounds over No. 7-ranked Jacob Begin. Also winning for MSUM were freshman Blake Bosch (125 pounds), freshman Garret Hoffner (149) and redshirt freshman Dan Murakami (157).

"We wrestled tough. Overall I was happy with our performance," MSUM head coach Kris Nelson said. "I would have liked to get the win. We've got a young team. We will keep working hard in the wrestling room. Our goal is to get better every day and work towards the regional tournament."

Trailing 3-2 heading into the third period, Bosch came finished strong against SMSU's Antonio Meikel at 125. He tied the match with an escape and then scored a takedown to take a 5-3 lead. He added two more key points with a near fall and with riding time, earned an 8-3 win.

"He looked good in the top position in the third period," Nelson said.

SMSU tied the dual at 3-3 after Justin Reinsma beat Dragon freshman Shane Novak at 133 pounds by an 8-3 decision. The 141-pound match was a hard-fought contest between Dragon redshirt freshman Isaac Novacek and SMSU senior Ethan Hildebrandt.  The match went back-and-forth before Hildebrandt gained a 7-6 lead in the third. Novacek tied the match at 7-7 with an escape but Hildebrandt earned the riding time point to secure an 8-7 decision.

Freshman Garret Hoffner continued his solid season with a 5-3 win over Beau Buysse at 149 pounds. Hoffner, now 11-7, helped MSUM tie the dual at 6-6 with the victory.

One of the most exciting matches of the night came at 157 pounds where Dragon redshirt freshman Dan Murakami squared off with SMSU senior Codie Lane.  Murakami trailed 6-5 late but scored a crucial takedown in the final seconds to earn a thrilling 7-6 win, which put the Dragons in front 9-6.

"I'm proud of Dan Murakami," Nelson said. "He came through big and took that shot at the end. He's had a lot of close matches and hasn't found a way to win some of those. Hopefully that builds his confidence."

MSUM junior Shawn Porter trailed much of the way but turned the tables late against Kyle Begin. Porter threw Begin to his back late at 165 pounds and narrowly missed a pin and wound up losing by major decision, 13-4.

Monk trailed early at 174 pounds but turned the tide later in the first period, getting Jacob Begin to his back and recording the fall in 2:23, pushing MSUM in front 15-10 in the dual. Monk is now 8-8 on the year.

"That was a big win for Conner Monk," Nelson said.

The Mustangs, however, won the final three matches -- all hard-fought contests by decision -- to gain the four-point win.

SMSU climbed back within 15-13 when Andrew Rodas beat Dragon senior Matt Lewellen, 8-6 in another competitive match. The Mustangs regained the lead at 16-15 when senior Micah Larson beat Dragon freshman Tyler Schlosser by a 3-0 decision and clinched the dual win at 285 pounds as senior Cole Wilson outlasted MSUM junior Gerad Fugleberg, 5-2.

The Dragons are back in action at home on Saturday against No. 3-ranked St. Cloud State for a 2 p.m. dual.

SMSU 19, MSUM 15
125-Blake Bosch (MSUM) dec. Antonio Meikel, 8-3
133-Justin Reinsma (SMSU) dec. Shane Novak, 8-3
141-Ethan Hildebrandt (SMSU) dec. Isaac Novacek, 8-7
149-Garret Hoffner (MSUM) dec. Beau Buysse, 5-3
157-Dan Murakami (MSUM) dec. Codie Lane, 7-6
165-Kyle Begin (SMSU) maj. dec. Shawn Porter, 13-4
174-Conner Monk (MSUM) pinned Jacob Begin, 2:23
184-Andrew Rodas (SMSU) dec. Matt Lewellen, 8-6
197-Micah Larson (SMSU) dec. Tyler Schlosser, 3-0
285-Cole Wilson (SMSU) dec. Gerad Fugleberg, 5-2