HAYS, Kan. - Colorado School of Mines hung tough to knock off its third top-25 team of the year, beating #12 Fort Hays State 16-15 on the road Thursday.

Both teams won five bouts, but the difference was Robert Gambrell's 8-0 major decision over #9 Marty Verhaeghe at 174 pounds for the only bonus point of the night. Matt Lavengood, Noah Ottum, Keenan Willits, and Jake Feldman all scored wins by decision for Mines (8-1). 

Lavengood got things started with a 5-3 decision over Broderick Green at 125, but FHSU took the lead as Conrad Cole won a tight 3-2 decision over Jake Woods at 133, and #2 Brandon Ball beat Lukas Erickson 3-0 at 141 despite a terrific defensive effort by Erickson. Mines got three points back thanks to Noah Ottum's 7-5 decision over Ryne Cokeley at 149, and Skyler Lykins nearly pulled off the upset of #4 Efe Osaghae at 157 in an 8-6 decision. Mines then went on a two-match run to take the lead as Keenan Willits cruised 11-4 over Jonathon Ball, and Gambrell dominated his bout at 174 pounds, earning takedowns in each period and riding out each to earn the statement win over the nationally-ranked Verhaeghe.

Micquille Robinson held on to beat Connor Ventura 4-2 at 184, but Feldman came up with a huge win at 197 on a takedown with less than 20 seconds remaining to beat Tyler Boone 6-4 and make the team score 16-12. That meant the Tigers needed either a tech fall or pin at 285 pounds to win, and although AJ Coopers did enough to earn the win over Weston Hunt, it was only by a 7-6 decision.

NOTABLES
- Mines has won three of its last four over Fort Hays State, including two straight while the Tigers were nationally ranked. 
- The Orediggers are 3-1 against nationally-ranked teams this year.
- Gambrell is a team-best 11-2 this season and 8-1 in duals.
- Willits improved to 9-4, and Ottum is now 8-4.

NEXT UP
Mines will head to Kearney, Neb. for Saturday's Midwest Duals beginning at 9 a.m.
 

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Colorado School of Mines 16, #12 Fort Hays State 15 [Full Scoring]
125: Matthew Lavengood (MINES) over Broderick Green (FHSU) (Dec 5-3) 
133: Conrad Cole (FHSU) over Jake Woods (MINES) (Dec 3-2) 
141: #2 Brandon Ball (FHSU) over Lukas Erickson (MINES) (Dec 3-0) 
149: Noah Ottum (MINES) over Ryne Cokeley (FHSU) (Dec 7-5) 
157: #4 Efe Osaghae (FHSU) over Skyler Lykins (MINES) (Dec 8-6) 
165: Keenan Willits (MINES) over Jonathon Ball (FHSU) (Dec 11-4) 
174: Robert Gambrell (MINES) over #9 Marty Verhaeghe (FHSU) (MD 8-0) 
184: Micquille Robinson (FHSU) over Connor Ventura (MINES) (Dec 4-2) 
197: Jake Feldman (MINES) over Tyler Boone (FHSU) (Dec 6-4)
285: AJ Coopers (FHSU) over Weston Hunt (MINES) (Dec. 7-6)