Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team held the lead through seven matches, but Cleveland State won the final three matches to take down Mason, 22-15. Mason finishes the regular season with a 9-8 record, 3-5 in the MAC. Cleveland State improves to 8-9 overall and 5-5 in the MAC.

Ben Monn began the match with late heroics. With under 20 seconds remaining and the scored tied 1-1, Monn had a takedown and near fall to win the match, 7-1.

In the 141-pound match Kaden Cassidy earned a quick tech fall, 15-0 (3:19), against the Vikings Hunter Olson. The freshman, who improved to 15-5 this season, gave the Patriots an 8-3 lead.

Avery Bassett won his seventh straight dual with an 8-0 decision against CSU's Joey Caprella in the 157 weight-class. The freshman improves to 21-6 overall and 7-1 in the MAC.

With five matches completed, Mason led 12-7. The Patriots and Vikings split the next two matches. The Patriots Logan Messer gave Mason a 15-10 lead after he earned a 7-1 decision against the Vikings Anthony Rice. The 174-pounder improved to 23-7.

The Vikings would cut the Patriots lead to 15-13 with two matches remaining after DeAndre Nassar edged Kyle Davis, 5-3. 

The Vikings took the lead for the first time in the match, 16-15, when No. 33 Ben Smith narrowly defeated the Patriots Jon List, 5-4. The score was deadlocked 3-3 after two periods. List earned a point with an escape to take a 4-3 lead, but Smith had a takedown late in the match for the 5-3 victory.

The Patriots will travel to Athens, Ohio for the Mac Championships, March 4-5 at the University of Ohio.

RESULTS
125 -- Ben Monn (Mason) dec. Logan Heil (CSU), 7-1       Mason 3-0
133 -- Jake Manley (CSU) dec. Michael Rapuano (Mason), 11-6 | Tied 3-3
141 -- Kaden Cassidy (Mason) tech fall Hunter Olson (CSU), 15-0 (3:19), | Mason 8-3
149 – #33 Marcus Robinson maj. dec. (CSU) Shawn Nonaka (Mason), 10-1 | Mason 8-7
157 -- Avery Bassett (Mason) / 20-6 dec. Joey Caprella (CSU), 8-0 | Mason 12-7
165 -- Riley Smucker (CSU) dec. Tyler Kocak (Mason), 6-1 | Mason 12-10
174 -- Logan Messer (Mason) dec. Anthony Rice (CSU), 7-1 | Mason 15-10
184 -- DeAndre Nassar (CSU) dec. Kyle Davis (Mason), 5-3 | Mason 15-13
197 -- No. 33 Ben Smith (CSU) dec. Jon List (Mason), 5-4 | CSU 16-15
285 – Daniel Bucknavich (CSU) Ali Salem (Mason), (3:06) | CSU 22-15
 
Extra Match
174 – Jax Leonard (CSU) major dec. Jeremy Seymour (Mason), 11-3