ITHACA, N.Y. – No. 5 Missouri won the first four matches of the dual to build a 17-0 lead and never looked back, picking up a 27-9 triumph over No. 5 Cornell on Saturday afternoon at Friedman Wrestling Center in a battle of unbeaten. The Tigers improved to 13-0, while the Big Red slipped to 6-1.

Cornell made a late run, winning three of four matches leading out of the middle weights and punctuated by a pair of top 20 wins. Sophomore Brian Realbuto got Cornell on the board with his 7-4 win over No. 10 Joey Lavallee at 157, his second win in a week and a half over the Tigers' star at that weight as he continues his comeback from a knee injury. Dylan Palacio also picked up a 9-4 victory over NCAA qualifier Mikey England at 165 to cut the Big Red deficit to 17-6.

Top-ranked Gabe Dean won a solid 4-2 decision over No. 14 Willie Miklus, who like Realbuto got his second win over Missouri's ranked starter in the last 10 days.

After forfeiting 125 and moving No. 2 Nahshon Garrett up a weight to 133, the Big Red grappler couldn't take advantage and dropped a 6-2 contest to unranked Zach Synon, who earned a first period takedown to take the lead and never trailed.

Missouri won major decisions at 141, 149 and 197 and a near-major with a 7-0 triumph at 174 with only five starters competing in their regular spots in the lineup. It was too much to overcome on this afternoon.

Cornell will open Ivy League dual competition with contests at Harvard and Brown on Saturday, Jan. 17.

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#5 Missouri 27, #4 Cornell 9
125: #2 Alan Waters (M) wins by forfeit
133: Zach Synon (M) won by decision over #2 (125) Nahshon Garrett (C), 6-2
141: #6 Lavion Mayes (M) won by major decision over Ryan Dunphy (C), 11-1
149: #4 Drake Houdashelt (M) won by major decision over Taylor Simaz (C), 10-0
157: #9 Brian Realbuto (C) won by decision over #10 Joey Lavallee (M), 7-4
165: #11 Dylan Palacio (C) won by decision over Mikey England (M), 9-4
174: #7 Johnny Eblen (M) won by decision over Jesse Shanaman (C), 7-0
184: #1 Gabe Dean (C) won by decision over #14 Willie Miklus (M), 4-2
197: #2 J'den Cox (M) won by major decision over #18 Jace Bennett (C), 11-0
285: #16 David Mellon (M) won by decision over Jacob Aiken-Phillips (C), 7-3