DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team saw its six-match winning streak come to an end Friday at the Chick Evans Field House with a 27-6 defeat against Michigan State.
 
The Huskies (7-6) got wins from Tyler Argue (Matteson, Ill./Mt. Carmel) and Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly), but three major decisions and a pair of one-point victories helped give the Spartans (3-3) the victory.
 
"It was a tight dual and there were some tightly-contested bouts," said NIU Head Coach Ryan Ludwig. "We have to wrestle hard and move more, move our feet more and snaps our hands more against people who don't want to wrestle hard."
 
Derek Elmore (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) got an early lead in the 125 match against MSU's Mitch Rogaliner, but a big second period by the Spartan allowed the visitors to claim a 5-3 decision and a 3-0 advantage to open the dual. MSU added to that lead at 133, as Danny Carlson (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) fell in a 12-4 major decision to Hermilo Esquivel.
 
Argue helped NIU get on the board with a win at 141 against Garth Yenter. The senior struck early with two quick takedowns in the first period, then grabbed two more in the second to claim an 8-3 win. Yet, the Spartans answered back at 149 when Gabe Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) suffered a 6-2 loss to Nick Trimble.
 
Trailing 10-3, NIU looked primed for a comeback when Andrew Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) had a 1-0 lead through two periods on Roger Wildmo. However, Wildmo turned the tables on Morse and escaped with a 3-2 win at 157 pounds. At 165, Shaun'Qae McMurtry (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Twp.) fought back from a 5-1 third-period deficit to get within 5-4, but couldn't get over the hump in a loss to Ryan Watts.
 
The Spartans clinched the dual with wins at 174 and 184, as Bryce Gorman (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) dropped a 9-1 major decision to Kevin Nash and Quinton Rosser (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archibishop Moeller) lost a 7-0 contest to John Rizqallah.
 
The Huskies got their second win of the night from Scott, who used a quick start to knock off Nick McDiarmid with a 6-3 decision. MSU finished off the dual with a 10-2 major decision at heavyweight by Luke Jones over Arthur Bunce (Munith, Mich./Dansville).
 
"That was an outstanding win for Shawn," Ludwig said. "We're putting the case together to make the NCAA tournament. McDiarmid is a nationally-ranked opponent, so is Shawn. We expect Shawn to climb in the rankings a bit, but that being said, we have to maintain now. It's about consistency and going on and building on that win. I was proud of Shawn's effort. He got a fast start out there and that's what we asked of him."
 
Michigan State 27, NIU 6
125: Mitch Rogaliner (MSU) dec. Derek Elmore (NIU), 5-3
133: Hermilo Esquivel (MSU) maj. dec. Danny Carlson (NIU), 12-4
141: Tyler Argue (NIU) dec. Garth Yenter (MSU), 8-3
149: Nick Trimble (MSU) dec. Gabe Morse (NIU), 6-2
157: Roger Wildmo (MSU) dec. Andrew Morse (NIU), 3-2
165: Ryan Watts (MSU) dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU), 5-4
174: Kevin Nash (MSU) maj. dec. Bryce Gorman (NIU), 9-1
184: John Rizqallah (MSU) dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 7-0
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Nick McDiarmid (MSU), 6-3
285: Luke Jones (MSU) maj. dec. Arthur Bunce (NIU), 10-2
 
The Huskies return to action in two weeks with a trip to face Central Michigan Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. CT in Mount Pleasant.