RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Utah Valley University won seven of 10 matches to open the Big 12 wrestling schedule with a 26-9 road win over California Baptist on Thursday night as part of FloWrestling's Night in America.

No. 11 David Evans, No. 33 Caleb Uhlenhopp and Kael Bennie each earned bonus points for the Wolverines, while Bridger Ricks, Haiden Drury, Mark Takara and Jack Forbes also picked up victories. Ricks and Takara both won in sudden victory.

"I'm glad our team responded well after our loss on Sunday. We had much better focus and discipline, better intensity and intentionality," head coach Adam Hall said. "I'm especially proud of how our guys responded to our travel woes yesterday. They stayed focused on taking care of business. We have momentum going into the next two weeks of training as we prepare for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Go Wolverines!"

Ricks opened the night with the first of two overtime wins for UVU (2-1). Tied 1-1 after seven minutes, he scored the winning takedown with 30 seconds left in the first overtime to give the Wolverines an early 3-0 lead. The win was his second this season over Cooper Shore. At 133 pounds, Geronimo Rivera hung tough with No. 33 Richard Murillo before Murillo sealed a 13-7 decision with a late takedown.

Drury led 1-0 after two stall calls against Jesse Vasquez in the first, then 2-0 after an escape in the second. Vasquez earned a point on a locked-hands call in the third, but Drury rode him out to finish the bout, adding a riding time point for the 3-1 victory. Evans dominated at 149, recording three takedowns in the first two periods before finishing the match with two more takedowns and a four-point near fall for a 20-3 technical fall with 28 seconds left to extend the team score to 11-3. Evans also beat Kelly earlier this season at the Cyclone Invitational.

Takara delivered UVU's second overtime win at 157, scoring the deciding takedown just over 30 seconds into sudden victory to defeat Drayden Morton 4-1 to make it 14-3 at the halfway point. Ryker Fullmer made his season debut at 165 after competing at 157 last year. Trailing 4-1 in the third, Fullmer tied it with a takedown before Gabriel Schumm earned an escape with five seconds remaining to win 5-4.

The 174-pound match between Tanner Lofthouse and Mason Espinoza also went to sudden victory. Espinoza forced overtime with riding time and scored the winning takedown late in the extra period for an 8-5 win. At 184 pounds, Uhlenhopp took a quick 7-0 lead on a takedown and four-point near fall less than a minute in. He extended it to 10-1 after two and then ended it with two more takedowns in the third, defeating Adonis Bonar 17-2 (6:46).

Bennie earned his second win of the season — and fourth in two years — over Eli Sheeren at 197, claiming an 11-1 major decision.  The Wolverine sophomore led 4-0 in the second and extended it to 7-0 late in the second after turning what was nearly a Sheeren takedown into one of his own late in the period. Bennie pushed it to 10-0 with a takedown to start the third en route to the bonus-point win.

Forbes capped the dual with a 4-2 win over Tristan Kemp at heavyweight. After a scoreless first period, Forbes secured the only takedown of the match in the second and held on.

Six Wolverines are scheduled to compete Sunday at the Roadrunner Open at CSU Bakersfield, with additional unattached wrestlers also expected to participate.
 
Results
125 — No. 28 Bridger Ricks (UVU) dec. Cooper Shore (CBU), 4-1 (SV-1). UVU 3, CBU 0
133 — No. 33 Richard Murillo (CBU) dec. Geronimo Rivera (UVU), 13-7. UVU 3, CBU 3
141 — No. 26 Haiden Drury (UVU) dec. Jesse Vasquez (CBU), 3-1. UVU 6, CBU 3
149 — No. 11 David Evans (UVU) tech. fall Paul Kelly (CBU), 20-3 (6:32). UVU 11, CBU 3
157 — Mark Takara (UVU) dec. Drayden Morton (CBU), 4-1 (SV-1). UVU 14, CBU 3
165 — Gabriel Schumm (CBU) dec. Ryker Fullmer (UVU), 5-4. UVU 14, CBU 6
174 — Mason Espinoza (CBU) dec. Tanner Lofthouse (UVU), 8-5 (SV-1). UVU 14, CBU 9
184 — No. 33 Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU) tech. fall Adonis Bonar (CBU), 17-2 (6:46). UVU 19, CBU 9
197 — Kael Bennie (UVU) major dec. Eli Sheeren (CBU), 11-1. UVU 23, CBU 9
285 — Jack Forbes (UVU) dec. Tristan Kemp (CBU), 4-2. UVU 26, CBU 9