FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason wrestling team fell 22-17 to Franklin & Marshall in a non-conference dual on Sunday afternoon at the Recreation Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Va.

Mason (3-12, 0-6 EWL) redshirt senior Ibrahim Bunduka started quickly with a pair of takedowns in the first period to build a 4-1 lead over Franklin & Marshall senior Edgar Garcia at 125 pounds.  Bunduka scored two more takedowns in the second period to increase the lead to 9-2.

Bunduka recorded six takedowns in the match, two in each period, in a 14-4 major decision to give the Patriots a 4-0 match score lead.

"We gave the crowd a lot to cheer about and a lot to be excited about," Mason head coach Frank Beasley said.  "The thing I took away from tonight more than anything was the effort.  I thought today, top to bottom, it was one of our best efforts of the season."

Franklin & Marshall (2-11, 0-8 EIWA) won by fall at 133 pounds and picked up a 9-4 decision at 141 pounds to take a 9-4 match score advantage.

At 149 pounds, redshirt junior Tejon Anthony (17-11) jumped in front of Diplomats freshman Wil Gil with a pair of takedowns in the first period.  With a one point lead, Anthony scored a takedown late in the second period to build a 6-3 advantage and went on to earn an 11-3 major decision.

The Diplomats then notched a 13-5 major decision at 157 pounds to increase their match score lead to 13-8.     
 
At 165 pounds, Mason redshirt sophomore Garrett Griffith and Diplomats junior Jacob Conners were scoreless after the first period.  Griffith took a 2-0 lead with a takedown midway through the second period. 

"He came in at the semester and he's been working hard," Beasley said.  "He's only been practicing with us for a few weeks.  He showed a lot of heart and fight and I think some guys rallied around that.  It was good to see that translate into a win today."

After Conners (1-1) tied the match 2-2 with an escape early in the third period, Griffith notched his first win as a Patriot when he registered a takedown with under 10 seconds remaining in the third to earn a 4-2 decision.

Franklin & Marshall increased its match score lead to 16-11 with an 8-3 decision at 174 pounds.

Mason redshirt junior Austin Harrison (3-10) built a 4-2 lead over Diplomats freshman Steven Mercadante at 184 pounds with two takedowns in the first period.  With a one-point lead in the third, Harrison put the match away with a pair of late takedowns for a 9-4 decision to cut the Diplomats match score lead to 16-14.

The Diplomats picked up a fall at 197 pounds to make the match score 22-14.

In the final bout of the day, Mason redshirt junior Matthew Voss, who is No. 30 in the NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings took on Antonio Pelusi, who entered the day No. 31 in the Coaches' Panel Rankings.

With the match tied 1-1 after the third period, Voss scored two near-fall points and an escape to earn a 4-2 decision (TB-1).

"It was the marquee matchup," said Beasley.  "Pelusi is a good wrestler and a national qualifier.  We were excited and knew that we had to push the pace.  It was a hard-fought match on both sides and I was just really happy for Matt."

The Patriots are back in action on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. when they host American at the Recreation Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Va.

Franklin & Marshall 22, George Mason 17

125 | Ibrahim Bunduka (Mason) major decision over Edgar Garcia (F&M), 14-4  |4-0 Mason
133 | Dan Martoccio (F&M) fall over Trevor Mello (Mason), 2:02 | 6-4 Franklin & Marshall
141 | Brett Kulp (F&M) decision over Jose Tapia (Mason), 6-0 | 9-4 Franklin & Marshall
149 | Tejon Anthony (Mason) major decision over Wil Gil (F&M), 11-3 | 9-8 Franklin & Marshall
157 | Emmett LiCastri (F&M) major decision over Ryan Yorkdale (Mason), 13-5 | 13-8 Franklin & Marshall
165 | Garrett Griffith (Mason) decision over Jacob Conners (F&M), 4-2 | 13-11 Franklin & Marshall
174 | Josh Young (F&M) decision over Levko Higgins (Mason), 8-3 | 16-11 Franklin & Marshall
184 | Austin Harrison (Mason) decision over Steven Mercadante (F&M), 9-4 | 16-14 Franklin & Marshall
197 | Philip Robilotto (F&M) fall over Eli Spencer (Mason), 1:46 | 22-14 Franklin & Marshall
285 | Matthew Voss (Mason) decision over Antonio Pelusi (F&M), 4-2 (TB-1) | 22-17 Franklin & Marshall