DeKALB | With two wrestling teams hoping to break into the top 25, the match is expected to be close.

That proved true in NIU’s case, as the match couldn’t have been any closer with the Huskies tying Northern Iowa 17-17 Sunday.

Because the match is non-conference, no tie-breaker is used to declare a winner.

“It’s two teams close to the top 25,” said wrestling head coach Dave Grant. “It’s always a battle when you get in with [Northern Iowa].”

NIU scored a technical fall by Pat Castillo in the 125-pound match and a major decision by Justin Metcalfe in the 141-pound match.

The 149-pound match came down to University of North Iowa’s Ryan Osgood edging out NIU’s Mike Grimes in two tiebreakers.

After a Grimes escape in the second tiebreaker, Osgood escaped and took down Grimes to win the match.

The 165-pound match was a rematch between two top 10 wrestlers: NIU’s No. 9 Johnny Galloway and UNI’s No. 4 Nick Baima. Baima won the first match 7-5 in the Kaufmann and Brand open in November.

Tied 2-2 in the third period, Galloway shot on Baima but Baima was able to reverse Galloway for two points to take the victory.

Before facing UNI, the Huskies defeated Old Dominion University 26-14. The Huskies had four wrestlers win both matches Sunday: Castillo, both Burks and 285-pound Dave Benner.