HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker won three of the first four individual bouts of the night in forging an early 16-3 lead, but the visiting and 25th-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team took five of the final six matches en route to grabbing a 28-19 win over the first-year Cobras on Thursday.
The triumph helped the Braves (7-4) extend their winning skein out to six duals and match the longest win streak since the 2002-03 club won its first nine dual meets of the season. It was the fourth loss in the last five outings for Coker (5-4).
Mikel Nelson (125 pounds) and Kevin Thompson (149) turned in bookend pins to help the Cobras build a big lead through four individual matches, but the Black & Gold got three-straight pins from Justin Pencook, Reggie Allen and Blaze Shade to storm ahead for good. Brach Walker pushed UNCP's lead out to 25-16 with a 16-3 major decision over Shane Carpenter at 184 pounds, while Stuart Nadeau capped the scoring for the Braves with a 4-3 comeback decision over Robert Parland in the 197-pound bout.
Austin Akins registered a 2-0 decision over newcomer Danny Berrier to give the Cobras a victory in the nightcap.
The Braves will return to action on January 24 when they make the trip to southwest Virginia for a rematch with Ferrum (4-2) inside Swartz Gym. Wrestling action is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. UNCP was a 28-13 winner over the Panthers at the Virginia Duals on Saturday.
No. 25 UNC Pembroke 28, Coker 19
125: Mikel Nelson (Coker) pinned Gabe Roberts (UNCP) F 0:54
133: Charlie Huff (Coker) maj. dec. Cole Murray (UNCP) M 16-4
141: Tyler Ross (UNCP) dec. Rashad Cunningham (Coker) D 14-7
149: Kevin Thompson (Coker) pinned Eric Milks (UNCP) F 6:56
157: Justin Pencook (UNCP) pinned Johnathan Dykes (Coker) F 5:52
165: Reggie Allen (UNCP) pinned Philip Burrows (Coker) F 2:36
174: Blaze Shade (UNCP) pinned Zach Dicus (Coker) F 3:45
184: Brach Walker (UNCP) maj. dec. Shane Carpenter (Coker) M 16-3
197: Stuart Nadeau (UNCP) dec. Robert Parland (Coker) D 4-3
285: Austin Akins (Coker) dec. Danny Berrier (UNCP) D 2-0
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNC Pembroke 7-4; Coker 5-4
