FARGO, N.D. – Jaden Van Maanen's pin at 149 pounds lit the fuse as North Dakota State turned over the University of Oklahoma 24-15 in a Big 12 Conference dual on Friday, Jan. 24, before 615 spectators in the Scheels Center. It was the first Bison win in the brief three-match series.
 
NDSU (4-3, 1-1 #Big12WR) is scheduled to wrestle Northern Colorado (1-4, 1-2 #Big12WR) at 3 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Greeley.
 
Van Maanen, a redshirt sophomore from La Crosse, Wis., recorded his fourth pin and seventh win since the start of the New Year at 1:27 over Oklahoma's Jacob Butler. He helped to put the Bison ahead 6-3. Van Maanen improved to 8-10 overall and 2-5 in duals.
 
Jared Franek picked up his fourth win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season with a 3-1 white-knuckler win over No. 16-ranked Justin Thomas. Franek gained an important takedown in the waning seconds of the first period and third period escape to push his record to 17-6 overall and 5-2 in duals.
 
North Dakota State's No. 9-ranked 165 Andrew Fogarty extended the lead to 15-3 with his fifth fall of the season at 3:32. Fogarty saw his first action since the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, and improved to 13-2 overall and 6-0 in duals.
 
Oklahoma (3-3, 1-2 #Big12WR) quickly cut the deficit to 15-9 in the next bout when No. 15-ranked 174 Anthony Mantanona recorded a pin at 4:04, and then bolted out of the intermission to knot the dual at 15-all with wins from 184 Darrien Roberts and No. 12 197-pounder Jake Woodley.
 
However, NDSU responded with a pair of tough-minded decisions from No. 27-ranked heavyweight Brandon Metz and 125-pounder McGwire Midkiff to break the deadlock. Following a scoreless first period, Metz (17-5, 5-1) picked up an early escape in the second and deciding takedown in the third to outlast Josiah Jones 3-2.
 
It was the same script at 125 pounds. Following a scoreless first period, Midkiff kept the top position for the entire second period and then recorded an escape 23-seconds in the third. His 1-minute, 37-seconds of riding time led to a 2-0 decision over Christian Moody. Midkiff improved to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in duals.
 
NDSU No. 10-ranked 133-pounder Cam Sykora jumped out to an early lead in a 6-4 decision to close out the dual. Sykora stands at 8-3 overall, 4-2 in duals.
 
North Dakota State 24, Oklahoma 15
Friday, Jan. 24, 2020
Scheels Center / Fargo, N.D.
141— #9 Dom Demas (OU) dec Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 11-5
149— Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) fall Jacob Butler (OU), 1:27
157— Jared Franek (NDSU) dec #16 Justin Thomas (OU), 3-1
165— #9 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) fall Jose Lao Cooper (OU), 3:32
174— #15 Anthony Mantanona (OU) fall Lorenzo De La Riva (NDSU), 4:04
184— Darrien Roberts (OU) dec TJ Pottinger (NDSU), 4-2
197— #12 Jake Woodley (OU) dec Cordell Eaton (NDSU), 6-2
285— #27 Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec Josiah Jones (OU), 3-2
125— McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) dec Christian Moody (OU), 2-0
133— #10 Cam Sykora (NDSU) dec #21 Anthony Madrigal (OU), 6-4
 
Dual started at 141 pounds
Attendance— 615
Referee— Scott Hall
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