Missouri edges Arizona State 22-17 in Tempe
Two first-period pins and a major decision supplied the bulk of Missouri’s offensive punch in a Big 12 dual decided by bonus points.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Missouri defeated Arizona State 22-17 on Thursday night at Desert Financial Arena, a dual decided largely by bonus-point results.
Arizona State’s No. 26 Pierson Manville turned in one of the biggest individual performances, defeating Missouri’s No. 28 Zeke Seltzer by technical fall, 21-5. Manville scored multiple takedowns across all three periods to end the bout early and keep the Sun Devils within striking distance.
Missouri answered with heavy scoring. No. 18 Josh Edmond opened a decisive stretch with a 9-1 major decision at 149 that produced four team points. Two first-period pins followed: No. 11 Cam Steed finished his 174-pound match by fall, and No. 2 Aeoden Sinclair recorded a pin at 184. Those bonus-point victories provided the swing that separated the teams.
The dual opened with a Missouri decision at 125, as No. 17 Mack Mauger beat Damian Moreno 7-2. Arizona State countered at 133 and 141, where No. 5 Kyler Larkin won 9-3 and Manville produced the technical fall, but Missouri recouped ground through Edmond’s major and the consecutive falls.
Missouri also collected decisions in the upper weights that helped secure the margin. Evan Bates posted a 7-3 decision at 197 after a late third-period takedown, and Missouri’s Mack Mauger and Josh Edmond contributed early momentum in their weight classes. Arizona State won the heavyweight bout as David Szuba beat Jarrett Stoner 7-3; Szuba’s victory was noted by Arizona State’s release as his 80th career win.
Individual sequences in several matches carried decisive weight. Edmond’s first-period takedown and a nearfall established the bulk of his 9-1 margin. Steed built a 6-1 lead in the opening frame before finishing by fall, and Sinclair recorded multiple first-period takedowns before converting the pin. Manville’s string of takedowns in the second period produced the technical fall that kept Arizona State competitive late in the dual.
The result moved Missouri’s record to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 competition, while Arizona State dropped to 0-8 and 0-5 in conference play, according to the teams’ releases. Missouri won five of the 10 bouts and collected three bonus-point victories; Arizona State also notched bonus points, including Manville’s technical fall.
The teams resume conference play in coming weeks; Arizona State is scheduled to visit Northern Colorado next, while Missouri continues its road slate. Thursday’s dual highlighted the impact of bonus scoring in duals where a handful of high-impact results can tilt the team outcome.