FAIRFAX, Va. – The Vikings (0-4, 0-1) opened MAC action with a 23-14 setback at George Mason (6-3, 1-1) on Saturday afternoon.
Cleveland State claimed a 3-0 advantage after Ben Aranda opened the match with a 4-1 decision over Ben Monn at 125-pounds.
George Mason tied the match with a 4-2 decision at 133-pounds and took a 9-3 lead after the Green and White forfeited at 141-pounds.
Douglas Terry pulled the Vikings to within 9-6 after picking up a 9-4 win at 149-pounds. Following a win for the Patriots at 157-pounds, Tate Geiser recorded a 10-3 win at 165-pounds as Cleveland State trailed 12-9.
Two straight decisions for George Mason at 174 and 184 pounds extended their lead to 18-9. No. 26/32 Ben Smith picked up a huge 20-4 tech fall at 197-pounds as CSU climbed to within four, 18-14. However, GMU matched the tech fall to win the MAC opener, 23-14.
The Vikings host their annual Cleveland State Open on Saturday, Dec. 9, starting at 9:30 a.m. inside Woodling Gymnasium.
Final Score: Cleveland State 14, George Mason 23
125: Ben Aranda (CSU) DEC Ben Monn (GMU), 4-1 | CSU leads 3-0
133: Shawn Nonaka (GMU) DEC Canyon Wells (CSU), 4-2 | Tied 3-3
141: No. 21/23 Nate Higley (GMU) (1-0) Forfeit | GMU leads 9-3
149: Douglas Terry (CSU) DEC Kaden Cassidy (GMU), 9-4 | GMU leads 9-6
157: No. 22/25 DJ McGee DEC Shane Heil (CSU), 13-7 | GMU leads 12-6
165: Tate Geiser (CSU) DEC Evan Maag (GMU), 10-3 | GMU leads 12-9
174: Sean Coughlin (GMU) DEC Gavin Ricketts (CSU), 7-2 | GMU leads 15-9
184: Malachi DuVall (GMU) DEC Joey Lyons (CSU), 4-0 | GMU leads 18-9
197: No. 26/32 Ben Smith (CSU) TF Ruben Karapetyan (GMU), 19-4 | GMU leads 18-14
285: No. 32/31 Chad Nix (GMU) TF Mason Cover (CSU), 17-1 | GMU leads 23-14