EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Dakota Leach and Patrick Myers nearly set the tone for the SIUE wrestling team early in the team's 40-0 defeat against seventh-ranked Missouri.

Leach and Myers both lost by a single points at 125 pounds and 133 pounds, respectively.

Missouri's Barlow McGhee recorded a first-period takedown of Leach and won 3-2. Matt Manley, of Missouri, won by the same score against Myers, this time due to a point for riding time.

"It was tough with those two," said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. "They were both losing at the end. They took a few shots, but if you are losing you have to go after it and find a way to score."

Three more matches were decided by two points or less. Missouri's Mike England defeated Jake Residori 604. John Eblen topped SIUE's Deshoun White 4-2. And David Devine dropped a 3-2 decision to Missouri's David Mellon.

Missouri captured bonus points in four matches, including three falls. J'Den Cox turned in the top performance for the Tigers with a 2 minute, 33 second pin over Chris Johnson.

Spates said he was pleased with several of his wrestlers, and this opportunity to face a nationally-ranked team at home will pay dividends as the Southern Conference home season begins next Sunday with a 2 p.m. match against Chattanooga.

"Wrestling the best teams helps you see where you are at as a team," said Spates.

It also was the first coaching meeting as head coaches between Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith and his former All-American and now SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. While the meeting went Smith's way, Spates said he hopes to make this an annual event.

"I'm trying to take a lot of we did in college and bring it here," said Spates. "Hopefully this will turn into a rivalry here soon since we're two hours apart."

COMPLETE RESULTS

125         Barlow McGhee (Missouri) def. Dakota Leach (SIUE) 3-2

133         Matt Manley (Missouri) def. Patrick Myers (SIUE) 3-2

141         Lavion Mayes (Missouri) def. Drew Vrbenec (SIUE) 12-3

149         Blake Pepper (Missouri) pinned Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE) 4:01

157         Matt Lemanowicz (Missouri) pinned Logun Taylor (SIUE) 6:09

165         Zach Toal (Missouri) def. Connor McMahon (SIUE) 7-2

174         Mike England (Missouri) def. Jake Residori (SIUE) 6-4

184         John Eblen (Missouri) def. Deshoun White (SIUE) 4-2

197         J`Den Cox (Missouri) pinned Chris Johnson (SIUE) 2:33

285         Devin Mellon (Missouri) def. David Devine (SIUE) 3-2