LAURINBURG – St. Andrews used Isaac King's tight 6-5 decision at 165 pounds to grab a 15-11 lead on the team scoreboard, but the 14th-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team used a trio of bonus point wins down the stretch to dispel of the upset-minded Knights, 27-18, on Thursday evening in Laurinburg.
The triumph marked the fifth-straight win for the Braves (7-2) who stayed perfect in the series with their U.S. 74 rivals. It was the fourth loss in the last five outings for St. Andrews (6-7).
Brennan Patton (125 pounds) and Tyran Taylor (133) each pulled out tight decisions to help the hosts stake claim to an early 6-0 advantage, but the Braves stormed back to take an 11-6 lead following a forfeit victory at 141 pounds, as well as Daniel Ownbey's dominating 21-6 technical fall over Brody McGrath in the 149-pound bout.
St. Andrews would answer by grabbing wins in both the 157- and 165-pound weight classes to reclaim the lead, but the Braves took the lead for good on Terrence Zaleski's first-period (2:16) pin over Georgia Nathaniel at 174 pounds. A 13-2 major decision by Mikey Thomas at 184 pounds, as well as Stuart Nadeau's first-period (2:19) pin of Argie Burnette at 197 pounds, would put the final nails in the coffin.
St. Andrews' Denzel Vaughan registered a 10-4 decision over Danny Berrier in the heavyweight bout to cap the night.
The Braves will be back in action again on Saturday when they head to Ferrum, Va., for the Panther Open inside Ferrum University's Hank Norton Center. Wrestling action is set to begin at 9 a.m.
No. 14 UNC Pembroke 27, St. Andrews 18
125: Brennan Patton (SAU) dec. Caison Scott (UNCP) D 6-5
133: Tyran Taylor (SAU) dec. Quan Le (UNCP) SV 4-2
141: Jake Smith (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (SAU) For
149: Daniel Ownbey (UNCP) tech. fall Brody McGrath (SAU) TF 21-6; 6:30
157: Travis Wood (SAU) pinned Reggie Allen (UNCP) F 1:24
165: Isaac King (SAU) dec. Dakota Roberts (UNCP) D 6-5
174: No. 4 Terrence Zaleski (UNCP) pinned George Nathaniel (SAU) F 2:16
184: Mikey Thomas (UNCP) maj. dec. Brandon Dills (SAU) M 13-2
197: Stuart Nadeau (UNCP) pinned Argie Burnette (SAU) F 2:19
285: Denzel Vaughan (SAU) dec. Danny Berrier (UNCP) D 10-4
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNC Pembroke 7-2; St. Andrews 6-7
