FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team won three of the first four bouts against Navy on Saturday night, but the Patriots fell to the Midshipmen 26-13 at the Recreation and Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Va.

The match, originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., was delayed for nearly 90 minutes after the referee for the match experienced car trouble.  As a replacement official made his way to the match, Mason and Navy held a wrestling clinic for area youth wrestlers who were in attendance.

"I thought both teams responded well to the adversity," Mason head coach Joe Russell said.  "We were delayed for over an hour and they put on a clinic for kids for us.  It was great to have Navy here and we appreciate what they do and it's an honor to compete against them.  When's it's all done, let's shake hands and applaud what they do for us."

Mason (5-11, 2-4 EWL) junior Ibrahim Bunduka (17-3) wasn't rattled by the delay.  He took an early 2-0 lead at 125 pounds with a takedown in the first minute against Navy junior Brant Leadbeter and then added another takedown in the final minute to take a 4-2 after the first period. 

Bunduka, ranked 24th in the NCAA Coaches Panel Ranking, struck for three more takedowns in the second period to build a 10-6 advantage.  Leadbeter cut the lead to 10-8 with a takedown in the third, but Bunduka held on for an 11-8 decision to give the Patriots a 3-0 match score lead.

"Ibrahim is in a great position and he keeps winning," Russell said.  "He scores points and that's fun.  He had five takedowns and I like that he keeps scoring points.  It's also good to see Lio get on a bit of a roll, getting bonus points with the major decision."

Freshman Lio Quezada (13-15) continued the fast start for the Patriots at 133 pounds.  He scored the only points of the first period, recording a takedown to jump out to a 2-0 lead against Navy freshman Ricky Bryant, who was appearing in his third dual of the season.

"Ibrahim really sets the tone of the match early and gets it going," Quezada said.  "It felt good getting the big lead in the beginning.  This is the exciting part of the season with the conference tournament and the nationals.  We have to keep the momentum."

After a scoreless second period, Quezada cruised to a 9-1 major decision by scoring seven points in the third.

At 141 pounds, Mason sophomore Tejon Anthony (16-9) scored with an early takedown and led 2-1 after the first period against 13th-ranked Jared Prince. 

Prince evened the score 2-2 with an escape point in the second before Anthony regained the advantage with an escape of his own early in the third period for a 3-2 lead. 

Prince was awarded a takedown late in the third to take a 4-3 lead in the match.  After a Mason challenge, the call was reversed.  Navy then challenged the call and after another lengthy video review, Prince was awarded the takedown and earned the win. 

"For Tejon, very tough, whatever the official called the match was pretty much over," Russell said of the challenge with only seconds remaining.  "I thought it would go our way, but for Tejon to wrestle one of the best wrestlers in the country that close and have the lead with seconds left, that's good.  We can build on that and he knows he can compete with the best."

Mason senior Sahid Kargbo (23-2), who is 21st in the NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings, won a 5-4 decision over Navy junior Corey Wilding at 149 pounds, with a riding time point the difference in the bout.  With Kargbo leading 4-2, Wilding tied the score 4-4 with a takedown at the buzzer in the third.

Navy (8-2, 1-1 EIWA) won the next five bouts, four with bonus points, to take the lead in the match. 

The Midshipmen notched a decision at 157 pounds and a pin at 165 pounds to take the lead for the first time.  Navy then recorded a major decision at 174 pounds, a fall at 184 pounds and a major decision at 197 pounds to increase the advantage to 26-10 over the Patriots.

Mason heavyweight Matthew Voss (15-10) finished strong for the Patriots.  He scored on a late reversal in the first period and led Navy sophomore Thomas Ott 4-3 going into the second period of their heavyweight matchup. 

"His pace was great and he gives that energy to his team," said Russell.  "Very pleased with Matt getting to the offense again and trying to score points.  It was a good win."

With the score tied 4-4 after the second period, Voss scored with an escape and a takedown for a 7-4 advantage early in the third period on the way to a 10-5 decision.

The Patriots are back on the mat on Saturday at Franklin & Marshall.  The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Navy 26, George Mason 13

125 | Ibrahim Bunduka (Mason) decision over Brant Leadbeter (Navy), 11-8 | 3-0 Mason
133 | Lio Quezada (Mason) major decision over Ricky Bryant (Navy), 9-1 | 7-0 Mason
141 | Jared Prince (Navy) decision over Tejon Anthony, 4-3 | 7-3 Mason
149 | Sahid Kargbo (Mason) decision over Corey Wilding (Navy), 5-4 | 10-3 Mason
157 | Casey Cowan (Navy) decision over Matthew Raines (Mason), 3-2 | 10-6 Mason
165 | Jonathan Carrera (Navy) fall over Daniel Mika (Mason), 6:46 | 12-10 Navy
174 | Jadaen Bernstein (Navy) major decision over Ryan Forrest (Mason), 16-6 | 16-10 Navy
184 | Michael Coleman (Navy) fall over Austin Harrison (Mason), 2:29 | 22-10 Navy
197 | Steban Cervantes (Navy) major decision over Matt Meadows (Mason), 15-5 | 26-10 Navy
HWT | Matthew Voss (Mason) decision over Thomas Ott (Navy), 10-5 | 26-13 Navy