OMAHA, NE--No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Omaha stormed back to win the final three bouts and tie the match at 16, but PAUL CARLSON's near fall at 157 pounds earned No. 7 North Dakota State a win by criteria in North Central Conference wrestling Saturday before a crowd of 440 at Sapp Fieldhouse.

Carlson, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation, recorded the match's only near fall in a 17-7 major decision over UNO's Dirk Desmond. That win gave the Bison (8-3) their first lead at 10-6 since fourth-ranked MATT STRAWSER posted a 6-3 decision in the night's first battle.

Sixth-rated MIKE FIEDLER followed Carlson with a 6-2 decision over Blu Wahle at 165 pounds and NDSU's THAD PIKE scored a two-point takedown with 1 second left in the 174-pound bout to claim a 3-2 win and stake the Herd to a 16-6 lead.

UNO (6-2) answered Pike's last-second heroics with wins at 184 by Zach Stalder, 197 by Chad Wallace and heavyweight by Les Sigman--all rated in the top 5 in their respective weight classes.

North Dakota State returns to the mat on Friday night at Minnesota State-Mankato. Action begins at Bresnan Arena at 7 p.m.

North Dakota State 16, Nebraska-Omaha 16
(NDSU wins by criteria G -- more near falls)
125--#4 Matt Strawser, NDSU, dec. #6 Dan Hilario, 6-3
133--Mitch Waite, UNO, dec. Nick Magee, 7-5
141--#4 Rodrick Ratcliff, UNO, dec. Lucas Christianson, 7-5
149--Zach Stevens, NDSU, dec. Christian Alt, 5-4
157--#1 Paul Carlson, NDSU, maj. dec. Dirk Desmond, 17-7
165--#6 Mike Fiedler, NDSU, dec. Blu Wahle, 6-2
174--Thad Pike, NDSU, dec. Dan Vech, 3-2
184--#5 Zach Stalder, UNO, dec. Nate Pesta, 13-6
197--#1 Chad Wallace, UNO, maj. dec. Brian Kraemer, 12-4
285--#4 Les Sigman, UNO, dec. Joe Bryce, 6-2