The No. 22-ranked North Dakota State University Bison proved too much for the Huskies in a 35-4 defeat Thursday at the Scheels Center in Fargo, North Dakota.

“There were a lot of tightly contested bouts that were won in a crucial situation,” Huskies’ Head Coach Ryan Ludwig said. “We competed hard. We just need to be more precise in our execution as we transition from one position to the next.”

Despite a strong showing last week at the MSU Open, the Huskies’ momentum was not enough to compete against the Bison. North Dakota State’s dominance was on full display as it won nine of 10 matches.

Redshirt first-year Brit Wilson was the lone winner for NIU. Wilson gave NIU its only points in an impressive major decision 15-4 victory against No. 24 redshirt junior Lorenzo De La Riva in the 174 weight-class battle.

“Brit [Wilson] wrestled the way we want everyone to wrestle. He was on the attack and kept the hammer down the entire match,” Ludwig said.

The Huskies lost the first six matches in hard-fought attempts to get some points back. NDSU was led by NCAA ranked wrestlers in No. 17 133-pound redshirt junior Cam Sykora and No. 23-ranked redshirt junior Brent Fleetwood. Sykora beat out NIU’s redshirt senior Alijah Jeffery with a technical fall. Fleetwood took care of redshirt first-year Brice West in a 7-1 decision defeat for the Huskies.

Redshirt sophomore Kenny Moore gave great effort but fell short in a 3-2 decision loss to No. 12 Andrew Fogarty at the 165 weight-class. Moore scored on a takedown, but Fogarty put up two escapes before holding top position for the entire third period to seal the victory with one point.

Redshirt first-year Mason Kauffman performed well against redshirt sophomore Nick Knutson. Knutson went up in the first period with a takedown, but, however, was penalized to give Kauffman two points. Kauffman put up a fight but was defeated in a 4-2 decision in the 157 weight-class.

North Dakota State is nationally ranked at No. 22, making them the first of two nationally ranked teams the Huskies will face this season. MAC opponent No. 7, University of Missouri, will visit the Huskies Jan. 5.

The Huskies will have more than a week of rest until their next appearance when they welcome Harper College, Clarion University and Utah Valley State University on Saturday Nov. 17 at Victor. E. Court for the Huskie Duals. Utah Valley and Clarion were considered for the top 25 NCAA D1 programs but barely missed the cut.

“We hope to have a nice home crowd on Saturday. Wrestling starts at 11 a.m.,” Ludwig said.