BROOKINGS, S.D. — No. 17-ranked South Dakota State edged No. 25-ranked North Dakota State 20-18 in a Big 12 Conference dual on Sunday, Feb. 19, before 1,606 spectators in Frost Arena. Both teams won five matches, but the Jackrabbits held the advantage in bonus points.
                      
North Dakota State finishes the regular season at 14-5 and 4-3 #Big12WR). The Bison are scheduled to compete at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships on March 4-5 in the BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla.
 
NDSU took their only lead in the dual at 125 pounds where No. 4-ranked Josh Rodriguez gained his ninth tech fall of the season 24-7 over South Dakota State's Kahlen Morris. Rodriguez improved to 21-1 overall and 18-1 in duals this season. Rodriguez moved to 99 career wins during the afternoon.
 
However, South Dakota State's No. 2-ranked 133 Seth Gross recorded the fall at 5:28 to put the Jackrabbits ahead 20-14. The Bison moved No. 20-ranked Cam Sykora up to 141, where claimed a 4-0 decision over Henry Pohlmeyer to make the final score.
 
NDSU No. 7-ranked Clay Ream kept rolling and grinded for a 14-2 major decision over Logan Peterson. That tied the dual at 4-all. Ream pushed his record to 22-3 overall and 17-1 in duals with a team-high seven major decisions.
 
South Dakota State won two straight to go ahead 10-4 as Luke Zilverberg edged Andrew Fogarty 3-2 at 165 pounds and No. 16 David Kocer defeated Dylan Urbach 6-1.
 
North Dakota State 184 Tyler McNutt broke the mini-run with an 11-7 decision, holding off Martin Mueller's late rally in the third period. Mueller had defeated McNutt at the Midlands Championships in December. McNutt improved to 13-10 overall, 10-9 in duals with the win to cut the deficit to 10-7.
 
However, SDSU bounced back when No. 7 Nate Rotert posted a 12-3 major decision over Cordell Eaton to extend the lead to 14-7.
 
The Bison started the late rally with Ben Tynan's exhausting 1-0 win over Alex Macki at 285 pounds.

No. 16-ranked Alex Kocer opened the dual for South Dakota State (14-5, 8-1 #Big12WR) with an 8-0 major decision.
 
#17 South Dakota State 20, #25 North Dakota State 18
Big 12 Conference Dual
Frost Arena, Brookings, S.D.
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017
*Dual started at 149 pounds
149 – #16 Alex Kocer (SDSU) major dec Kyle Gliva (NDSU), MD 8-0 / Jacks 4-0
157 – #7 Clay Ream (NDSU) major dec Logan Peterson (SDSU), MD 14-2 / Tied 4-4
165 – Luke Zilverberg (SDSU) dec Andrew Fogarty (NDSU), 3-2 / Jacks 7-4
174 – #16 David Kocer (SDSU) dec Dylan Urbach (NDSU), 6-1 / Jacks 10-4
184 – Tyler McNutt (NDSU) dec Martin Mueller (SDSU), 11-7 / Jacks 10-7
197 – #7 Nate Rotert (SDSU) major dec Cordell Eaton (NDSU), MD 12-3 / Jacks 14-7
285 – Ben Tynan (NDSU) dec Alex Macki (SDSU), 1-0 / Jacks 14-10
125 – #4 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) tech fall Kahlen Morris (SDSU), TF 24-7 / Bison 15-14
133 – #2 Seth Gross (SDSU) fall Arthur Payne (NDSU), Fall, 5:28 / Jacks 20-15  
141 –  #20 Cam Sykora (NDSU) dec Henry Pohlmeyer (SDSU), 4-0 / Jacks 20-18