CHADRON, Neb. -- January 26, 2018 -- Fans of college wrestling were treated to some suspenseful finishes on Friday evening in the Chicoine Center, as the Adams State University Grizzlies topped Chadron State College 33-11 in the Eagles' final tune-up before the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships next weekend.

Chadron State won only two of the nine contested matches, but scored big in that pair of bouts and fought hard in the others, giving very little away to a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers on the No. 21 team in the nation.

In the opener, at 157, Jacob Otuafi was efficient in racing out to a 10-0 first period advantage, with a pair of four-point nearfalls. He took his opponent down again in the second period, and scored a quick escape and takedown combo early in the third to win by technical fall.

Three bouts went to overtime. Matches at 165, 174, and 285 all ended tied and provided thrilling conclusions, although they all ended in ASU wins. Koery Windham caught CSC's Johnny Porter in a throw in the sudden victory period at 165, going to the mat for an instant fall. At 174, ASU's Isaac Lopez parried Heber Shepherd's attack for a takedown in the sudden victory period, and at heavyweight CSC's Rulon Taylor took fifth-year senior Tuli Laulu to the second tiebreaker period before succumbing to a reversal.

The Eagles' 197-pound roster spot was open and resulted in a forfeit.

At 133, CSC freshman Chance Karst was in control most of his match before getting caught in a two-point nearfall near the perimeter of the mat late in the third, and dropping an 8-7 heartbreaker.

Veteran Joshua Miller, filling in at 141 pounds, scored the biggest win of the night, sticking ASU's Marquel Parks with a pin in the second period, to the great delight of the crowd.

In the finale, another freshman, Jacob DeSersa, frustrated No. 5 Natrelle Demison late in the third with a reversal and a late flurry of back-and-forth offense, but was defeated 6-3.

The Eagles will have the following week to prepare for the RMAC Tournament which takes place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Saturday, February 3, in Colorado Springs.

ASU 33, CSC 11
157 - Jacob Otuafi (Chadron State) over Joshua Salas (TF 15-0 5:24)
165 - Koery Windham (Adams State) over John Porter (Fall 7:43)
174 - Isaac Lopez (Adams State) over Heber Shepherd (SV-1 3-1)
184 - Richard Bencomo (Adams State) over Devin Stork (Dec 4-2)
197 - Joe Bencomo (Adams State) over Unknown (For.)
285 - Tuli Laulu (Adams State) over Rulon Taylor (TB-2 4-3)
125 - Darek Huff (Adams State) over Marcus Hutcherson (Fall 2:06)
133 - Luis Gurule (Adams State) over Chance Karst (Dec 8-7)
141 - Joshua Miller (Chadron State) over Marquel Parks (Fall 4:45)
149 - Natrelle Demison (Adams State) over Jacob DeSersa (Dec 6-3)