Blue Devil Comeback Falls Short Against NC State

Saturday, January 9

Durham, N.C.

6:30 p.m.

Duke University

N.C. State

Bencomo Completes Day 2 at Southern Scuffle

Blue Devil Comeback Falls Short Against NC State

1/9/2010 9:00:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-The Duke University wrestling team put forth a valiant comeback, but came up just short in a 22-17 loss to NC State this evening in ACC action at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils fell behind 14-0 before rebounding to pull within one 18-17 heading into the final bout.

Duke captured wins at 157, 174, 184 and 197-pounds against the Wolfpack, earning a fall and a technical fall in two of those. NC State's Eloheim Palma secured the victory with a major decision in the final match.

The match started at 125 pounds with Duke sophomore Peter Terrezza going up against Mike Moreno. The Pack garnered the first points with a takedown, but it was Terrezza who took control by tallying the next six points over the first two periods for a 6-3 advantage heading into the final two minutes.

Moreno opened the final session with an escape to make it 6-4. With one minute left in the session, Terrezza was battling to hold onto his two-point lead, but Moreno was able to get a takedown to tie the bout and force overtime. The Wolfpack sophomore quickly struck in overtime with a takedown to come away with the 8-6 match win and an early 3-0 lead for NC State.

The Wolfpack's Scott Norris picked up a 10-4 decision over Duke's Nick Adamo at 133 pounds to make it 6-0, while Dale Shull battled back from an 8-3 deficit in the first period to win 13-11 and push NC State's advantage to 9-0.

After getting a technical fall from Bobby Ward to make it a 14-0 match in favor of the Wolfpack, the Blue Devils got on the board as rookie Christopher Piccolella garnered a decision against Colton Palmer in his first collegiate dual match. Piccolella registered a takedown early in the first period and was able to hold off the feisty Palmer to give the Blue Devils three points.

With Duke's Spencer Jasper wrestling up a few weight classes, NC State made it an 18-3 contest with a major decision at 165 pounds. However, the Blue Devils started to mount their comeback starting with senior Voris Tejada at 174 pounds.

Tejada picked up the early takedowns in both of the first two periods and led 8-4 after five minutes of action. The native of Marlton, N.J., cruised through the final session to post the 9-4 decision and get three points back.

Redshirt freshman Diego Bencomo gave Duke just what it needed at 184 pounds with a pin of Cedric Moore in just 2:53. The native of Phoenix, Ariz., amassed a 4-1 lead late in the first period and then came up with the big move with a pin in the final seven seconds.

Trailing 18-12 with two bouts to go, redshirt senior John Barone did what he needed to do at 197 pounds. Barone dominated Andrew Tumlin in all facets of the match, including registering a pair of three-point near falls in the second period. He added a point for riding time to give him the 17-2 technical fall victory and pull Duke within one point, 18-17.

Lining up for heavyweight for Duke was Andrew Fulk. Competing in his first dual match of the season, Fulk battled valiantly through the first two periods before Palma pulled away with the 10-1 win.

Duke continues its ACC schedule on Jan. 12 at North Carolina at 7 p.m.

125 (NCSU) Mike Moreno dec. (DU) , 8-6 (0-3) Peter Terrezza

133 (NCSU) Scott Norris dec. (DU) , 10-4 (0-6) Nick Adamo

141 (NCSU) Dale Shull dec. (DU) , 13-11 (0-9) Mike Bell

149 (NCSU) Bobby Ward TF-5 (DU) , 17-2 (0-14)Brent Jorge

157 (DU) Christopher Piccolella dec. (NCSU) Colton Palmer, 3-0 (3-14)

165 (NCSU) Ray Ward major dec. (DU) , 16-3 (3-18) Spencer Jasper

174 (DU) dec. (NCSU) Quinton Godley, 9-4 (6-18) Voris Tejada

184 (DU) fall (NCSU) Cedric Moore, 2:53 (12-18) Diego Bencomo

197 (DU) TF-5 (NCSU) Andrew Tumlin, 17-2 (17-18 John Barone

285 (NCSU) Eloheim Palma major dec. (DU) , 10-1 (17-22)Andrew Fulk

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