COLUMBIA, Mo. – Utah Valley University fell to Missouri, 18-16 on Friday night inside the Hearns Center. UVU (5-5) rallied from a 15-0 deficit to take a 16-15 lead after bonus point wins from Mark Takara and Caleb Uhlenhopp. The night came down to the final bout, with Missouri coming out on top.
 
"We were aggressive but a little careless, and it cost us in a few matches early. It's hard to beat a Top 25 team when you start the dual five matches in the hole," said UVU head coach Adam Hall. "We clawed our way back and gave ourselves a chance to win at the end. The difference in our wins and losses tonight was discipline. We will learn from our mistakes and be ready for a battle next week against Wyoming".
 
Three of the first five bouts were won by ranked wrestlers for the Tigers. Four-time Oklahoma State Champion and freshman Gage Walker battled Bridger Ricks through two periods of a scoreless tie before the action picked up in the final frame, with the No. 32 ranked Walker coming out on top 6-3.
 
The Tiger's 3-0 lead was extended with a decision at 133 by Jake Crapps before #11 Josh Edmond took a 3-0 lead with a takedown with 2:13 left in the first. He added an escape to take a 6-1 lead, only allowing two escapes by No. 13 Haiden Drury. He narrowed the gap by scoring a pair of escapes but still trailed 6-3, heading to the third period. Drury continued to take shots into the third period but was only able to score a pair of points, allowing Edmond to hold on for the narrow victory. Zeke Seltzer and James Conway picked up decisions for Missouri to extend the lead to 16-0.
 
Utah Valley's luck changed starting at 165, as No. 4 Terrell Barraclough battled through a scoreless first period by taking a 2-0 lead just 23 seconds into the second period. While being in control for most of the match, Missouri's Joel Mylin continued to hold off multiple attempts and shots by Barraclough to pull away.  After a scoreless third period, he secured the riding time point for his 17^th win of the season and a perfect 8-0 record in duals.
 
The comeback continued with back-to-back bonus point victories, first with Mark Takara at 174; he took down Logan Cole just 16 seconds into the first period before securing his third pin of the season. The pin was the fifth fastest of the season for the Wolverines. At 184, Caleb Uhlenhopp opened up a 6-0 lead in the second after a scoreless opening period. He started with a reversal before a four-point near fall with 39 seconds left in the second. Uhlenhopp secured the bonus point victory with a takedown with 36 seconds left in the final period.
 
Clinging to a 16-15 lead, the dual came down to the final match while Forbes was looking to keep his momentum going after his pin against California Baptist a couple of weeks ago. Mizzou's Jarrett Stoner escaped after choosing bottom to go up 1-0. Late in the second period, he extended the lead to 4-0 with an escape. Forbes had to come back in the final period, but Stoner held off every attempt, only allowing an escape in the period.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will have six attached wrestlers compete on Sunday in the Cyclone Open hosted by Iowa State. They will return to dual action next week with a showdown in Wyoming against the Cowboys. The first match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MT on FloWrestling and the Mountain West Network.
 
Full Results   
125 - #32 Gage Walker (Mizzou) over Bridger Ricks (UVU), DEC 6-3
133 – Jake Crapps (Mizzou) over Kase Mauger (UVU), DEC 9-2
141 - #11 Josh Edmond (Mizzou) over #13 Haiden Drury (UVU), DEC 7-5
149 – Zeke Seltzer (Mizzou) over Smokey McClure (UVU), DEC 8-2
157 - #28 James Conway (Mizzou) over Ryker Fullmer (UVU), DEC 9-6
165 - #4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) over Joel Mylin (Mizzou), DEC 3-0
174 – Mark Takara (UVU) over Logan Cole (Mizzou), Fall (1:05)
184 – Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU) ovr Jeremy Jakowitsch (Mizzou), MD 10-0
197 – Kael Bennie (UVU) over Jared Cassatt (Mizzou), DEC 9-5
285 – Jarrett Stoner (Mizzou) over Jack Forbes, DEC 5-1