KENT, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team had an unlucky trip east Friday inside the M.A.C. Center, as they suffered a 27-6 defeat against Kent State.
 
The Huskies (9-11, 1-5 MAC) grabbed a quick 3-0 against the Golden Flashes (8-12, 4-4 MAC) lead thanks to a win from Derek Elmore (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem), but only Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) was able to get his hand raised in the remaining nine bouts.
 
"Tonight, we came out flat and didn't find our intensity until late in the second, heading into the third period," said NIU Head Coach Ryan Ludwig. "We will fix that and rebound strong. I believe in this team. We will be strong in our resiliency as we head toward our goals. There were a couple of matches where a tough situation was won or lost and the outcome determined the match."
 
Elmore got the Huskies off to a positive start with a 5-3 victory over Del Vinas at 125. Following a scoreless first period, the NIU senior broke the scoreless tie with an escape, then nailed a takedown and got two nearfall points before the period was over to build an insurmountable 5-0 advantage.
 
KSU, though, knotted things back up at 133 when Jordan Northrup (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) lost a 7-1 decision to Mack McGuire. The Golden Flashes seized control of the dual in the next three matches with a trio of major decisions en route to a 15-3 halftime edge. Tyler Argue (Matteson, Ill./Mt. Carmel) suffered a 12-0 defeat to Tyler Small at 141, Austin Culton (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) dropped a 9-0 match to Mike DePalma at 149 and Andrew Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) was dealt a 15-4 defeat by fourth-ranked Ian Miller at 157.
 
The hosts' momentum carried over into the second half. At 165, Shaun'Qae McMurtry (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Twp.) nearly came away with a second-period pin against Tyler Buckwalter, but only got two nearfall points as Buckwalter escaped with an 8-5 win.
 
Meanwhile, Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) fell into an early 8-0 hole against Caleb Marsh at 174. Yet, the Winnebago, Illinois, native rallied with a takedown in each the second and third periods to fight off a major decision in a 10-4 defeat.
 
Quinton Rosser (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) nearly came away with his second-straight victory in a 9-7 loss to Jerald Spohn at 184. Despite surrendering an early takedown, the true freshman tied the bout up and eventually took a 4-2 lead with a takedown. After Spohn rallied for a 5-4 lead early in the second, Rosser reclaimed the lead with an escape-takedown combo. However, Spohn's three nearfall points and a riding time advantage allowed him to emerge with the win.
 
Scott got the Huskies back on the board courtesy of a 6-0 shutout of Stephen Suglio. After setting the tone with a first-period takedown, the redshirt sophomore dominated Suglio, finishing with a multi-minute riding time advantage and giving the Golden Flashes' 197-pounder little chance for a comeback. Yet, KSU got the final points of the night with Arthur Bunce's (Munith, Mich./Dansville) 4-2 loss to Mimmo Lytle.
 
Kent State 27, NIU 6
125: Derek Elmore (NIU) dec. Del Vinas (KSU), 5-3
133: Mack McGuire (KSU) dec. Jordan Northrup (NIU), 7-1
141: Tyler Small (KSU) maj. dec. Tyler Argue (NIU), 12-0
149: Mike DePalma (KSU) maj. dec. Austin Culton (NIU), 9-0
157: #4 Ian Miller (KSU) maj. dec. Andrew Morse (NIU), 15-4
165: Tyler Buckwalter (KSU) dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU), 8-5
174: Caleb Marsh (KSU) dec. Trace Engelkes (NIU), 10-4
184: Jerald Spohn (KSU) dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 9-7
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Stephen Suglio (KSU), 6-0
285: Mimmo Lytle (KSU) dec. Arthur Bunce (NIU), 4-2
 
The Huskies bring the 2014-15 regular season to a close next weekend with a pair of home matches. NIU takes on Buffalo Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. for Senior Night on ESPN3, then clash with #20 Old Dominion Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m.