ASHLAND, Ore. – No. 19 Eastern Oregon Men's Wrestling avenged an early season dual loss to rival Southern Oregon with a 21-20 dual win on the road Saturday night. The match was a close one all night, but a penalty against the Raiders late helped lift the Mountaineers to victory. With the win EOU is now 8-4 overall and 6-3 in CCC dual action.

Each team picked up five wins on the night, but it was a team penalty against Southern after the 174-pound bout that helped Eastern escape with the win. The violation cost the Raiders one team point which ultimately gave the Mountaineers the slim 21-20 win.

SOU started the night with wins in the first two weight classes by way of decision and pin to go ahead 9-0. Jaxon Morlan got EOU on the board with a 4-1 decision victory at 141 pounds. Chad Muenzer added three more points with a decision at 149 pounds to bring the team score to 9-6.

The Raiders answered winning the next two bouts via a decision and pin to lead 18-6. At 174 pounds, Keegan Mulhill dropped a 6-4 contest, but a penalty against the Raiders kept the score at 20-6 instead of 21-6. Eastern then won the final three bouts to secure the dual win.

Kyle Knudtson pinned his opponent in 3:48 at 184 pounds to cut the Mountaineers' deficit to 20-12. Marco Retano then scored an 11-5 decision at 197 pounds to make it a 20-15 score. At 285 pounds, Noel Orozco picked up a forfeit win that gave EOU an easy six points and a 21-20 comeback victory.

The Mountaineers next competition will be in the postseason as they get ready for the CCC Championships which will take place Feb. 18-19. Hosting this year's Championships is Montana State-Northern in Havre, Mont.

No. 19 Eastern Oregon vs. Southern Oregon
125 – Pancho Barrera, SOU, dec. Luciano Fasulo, 9-5. (3-0)
133 – Justin Coon, SOU, p. Zach Mauras, 1:12. (9-0)
141 – Jaxon Morlan, EOU, dec. Anthony Perez, 4-1. (9-3)
149 – Chad Muenzer, EOU, dec. Zack Wigzell, 6-4. (9-6)
157 – JJ Talavera, SOU, p. Malakai Moyer, 6:17. (15-6)
165 – Max Miller, SOU, dec. John Bittinger, 11-8. (18-6)
174 – Noah Talavera, SOU, dec. Keegan Mulhill, 4-2 (SV). (20-6)
184 – Kyle Knudtson, EOU, p. Kabb Christensen, 3:48. (20-12)
197 – Marco Retano, EOU, dec. John White, 11-5. (20-15)
285 – Noel Orozco, EOU, wins by forfeit. (20-21)
(SOU penalized 1 team point due to violation at 174.) 

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