Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey wrestling team suffered a 28-13 setback to Centenary University on Friday night in Packer Hall.
 
The 21^st-ranked Lions dropped a pair of tight matches at 141 and 149 as the Cyclones (4-0) captured four straight bouts en route to their fourth win this season. Trailing 18-3, TCNJ ran off three straight wins to close the gap to 18-13, but Centenary closed strong with a major decision and a pin to seal the triumph.
 
At 125, Lions' sophomore Luis Rivera (Landisville, NJ/Buena) controlled the bout from start to finish and registered a 9-3 victor to open the match. The Cyclones won via forfeit at 133 to move ahead, 6-3.
 
In the 141 bout, Max Nuta took a 5-4 lead into the final period and earned two more points to hold off Lions' freshman Anthony Gagliano (Howell, NJ/Howell) for a 7-4 decision.
 
Another fiercely competitive bout was at the 149-pound weight class. Lion sophomore JT Beirne (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) and Christopher Muce went to overtime locked at 5-5. Muce earned a point in the fifth period and squeaked out a 6-5 decision.
 
Following a pin by Cyclone Alec Donovan, TCNJ rattled off three straight wins. Sophomore Mark Gerstacker (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) reversed the shift in momentum by gritting out a 5-3 decision over Jeremy Nurnberger. Senior Nick Herring (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) then took center stage and dominated his opponent to gain a 15-5 major decision.
 
At 184, freshman notched his 18^th win of the season with a hard-fought, 3-2 win over Konstantinos Protogeropoulos. That brought the Lions within five points, but Etiini Udott muscled his way to a 13-4 major to secure the road win for Centenary before Anthony Colabella won via fall in the heavyweight match-up.
 
The Lions return to the mats tomorrow when they travel to compete in a Tri-Meet against Mt. Saint Vincent College and New York University at 11 a.m.
 
Centenary University 28       The College of New Jersey 13
 
125: Luis Rivera (TCNJ) Dec. 9-3 Bobby Demeter (C); TCNJ leads. 3-0
133:Dylan Luciano (C) Forfeit; Centenary leads, 6-3
141: Maxwell Nauta Dec. 7-4 Anthony Gagliano (TCNJ); Centenary leads, 9-3
149: Christopher Muce (C) Dec. OT 6-5 JT Beirne (TCNJ); Centenary leads, 12-3
157: Alec Donovan (C) Pin (3:45) Marcus Sherrod (TCNJ); Centenary leads, 18-3
165: Mark Gerstacker (TCNJ) Dec. 5-3 Jeremy Nurnberger (C); Centenary leads, 18-6
174: Nick Herring (TCNJ) Maj. Dec. 15-5 Thomas Hinz (C); Centenary leads, 18-10
184: Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) Dec. 3-2 Konstantinos Protogeropoulos (C); Centenary leads, 18-13
197: Etiini Udott (C) Maj. Dec. 13-4 Pat Schinder (TCNJ) 22-13
285: Anthony Colabella (C) Pin (3:34) Sigala Fosam (TCNJ) 28-13