DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team got off to a promising start Friday, but saw their lead vanish in a 21-16 loss to Ohio.
 
The Huskies (8-9, 0-3 MAC) won two of the first three matches, as Tyler Argue's (Matteson, Ill./Mt. Carmel) major decision and Andrew Morse's (Alto, Mich./Lowell) decision put NIU ahead, 7-3. The Bobcats (6-4, 2-3 MAC) rallied with five-straight wins to score the dual victory.
 
"I think we're wrestling with a lot of energy and a lot of confidence," said NIU Head Coach Ryan Ludwig. "That's what we talk about. I especially thought Tyler Argue's effort tonight was great. He put together a good match and got some bonus points to start us off and got a lot of momentum for us. Andrew Morse had a great win at 157, so I'm super proud of his leadership and the way he is wrestling right now.
 
"As a whole, we're definitely making our strides forward and we're looking on to the next challenge."
 
The Huskies opened the scoring in a flourish thanks to Argue at 141. The senior scored eight takedowns, including three each in the first and third periods, to claim a 17-6 major decision over Joel Shump and put NIU ahead, 4-0. Ohio countered at 149 when Austin Culton (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) dropped a 9-4 decision to Tywan Claxton, the nation's eighth-ranked wrestler in the weight class.
 
Holding on to a slim one-point lead, Morse pushed the Huskie advantage to four with a 7-3 win over Spartak Chino. The junior from Alto, Michigan, opened the bout with a takedown, but surrendered a reversal in the second en route to a 3-3 stalemate through two periods. An escape put Morse back ahead to open the third, while another takedown clinched the win and a 7-3 NIU lead.
 
Yet, the Bobcats rallied with two convincing wins. At 165, Shaun'Qae McMurtry (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Twp.) grabbed a quick takedown and had Ohio's Harrison Hightower nearly on his back. However, Hightower escaped, then nailed a takedown and three nearfall points to go up 6-2 on his way to a 7-2 win. Moments later, Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) was pinned by eighth-ranked Cody Walters in the 174 match, putting Ohio ahead, 12-7.
 
The Bobcats kept winning after the intermission. Quinton Rosser (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) fought tough with Andrew Romanchik, but it was the Bobcats' 184-pounder who came away with a 2-0 decision. In a 197-pound matchup between two national tournament contenders, Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) and 16th-ranked Phil Wellington fought to a 2-2 tie through two periods. Wellington, though, scored the deciding points with an escape and a takedown for a 7-3 decision. The Bobcats clinched the win when Arthur Bunce (Munith, Mich./Dansville) lost a 5-3 decision to Jesse Webb.
 
Derek Elmore (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) got NIU back on the winning track at 125 with a 9-5 win over Zak Hassan. Despite surrendering an early takedown, the senior bounced back with a takedown of his own, then got three nearfall points to blow open the bout.
 
In the finale at 133, Jordan Northrup (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem)  manhandled Josh Parrett on his way to a 6-0 lead. The redshirt freshman continued his dominance in the second period, flipping Parrett before pinning him with eight seconds left in the period.
 
"We're so close to breaking through, we can smell it," Ludwig said. "That's been the plan all year and that is going to continue to be the plan. We're going to break through in March and we're going to make a run through the MAC Tournament with a good finish."
 
Ohio 21, NIU 16
141: Tyler Argue (NIU) maj. dec. Joel Shump (Ohio), 17-6
149: #8 Tywan Claxton (Ohio) dec. Austin Culton (NIU), 9-4
157: Andrew Morse (NIU) dec. Spartak Chino (Ohio), 7-3
165: Harrison Hightower (Ohio) dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU), 7-2
174: #8 Cody Walters (Ohio) pins Trace Engelkes (NIU), 4:31
184: Andrew Romanchik (Ohio) dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 2-0
197: #16 Phil Wellington (Ohio) dec. Shawn Scott (NIU), 7-3
285: Jesse Webb (Ohio) dec. Arthur Bunce (NIU), 5-3
125: Derek Elmore (NIU) dec. Zak Hassan (Ohio), 9-5
133: Jordan Northrup (NIU) pins Josh Parrett (Ohio), 4:52
 
The Huskies get back on the mats Sunday at 1 p.m. to face #3 Missouri.