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BLACKSBURG - The lower weights came through in a big way and the 15th-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team hung on for a 25-16 ACC win over the University of North Carolina Saturday at Cassell Coliseum. With the win, the Hokies move to 11-3 overall, 1-0 in the ACC while the Tar Heels fall to 3-5-1, 1-2 in the league.

After a draw to determine the starting spot, Brian Stephens dominated Ky Corley at 149 pounds, beating him 18-9. Stephens, a freshman, used four takedowns in the first period, three in the second and one more in the third to cruise to the major decision win.

Up next was the bout most came to see as UNC’s Thomas Scotton, ranked third in the country, took to the mat against fifth-ranked Jesse Dong of Tech. The bout was scoreless after one period as the two wrestlers felt things out. Dong deferred his choice and Scotton chose neutral to start the second stanza but Dong pounced in on the legs for a takedown 24 seconds in. He rode him for the remaining 1:34 of the period to take a 2-0 lead as the large crowd roared in appreciation. In the third, Dong escaped about 20 seconds in to make it 3-0 and that’s the way it stood until the clock started winding down. Scotton got a takedown and let Dong up with about 30 second left to make it 4-2. With under 15 seconds left, Scotton shot in, spun and got to the legs of Dong for the takedown to tie it up. But the horn sounded with Dong still holding 1:09 of riding time, giving him an extra point for riding time and the exciting 5-4 win.

Matt Epperly was up next at 165 pounds and an early takedown was all he needed to beat Kyle Kiss 3-1 to make it 10-0. The Hokies forfeited at 174 pounds to make it 10-6, but 20th-ranked Tommy Spellman controlled the pace of his 184-pound match, downing Dennis Drury 6-3 to make it 13-6. The Tar Heels came storming back with a pair of technical falls at 197 pounds and at heavyweight to take a 16-13 lead.

Moving back to 125 pounds, 16th-ranked Jarrod Garnett fought off the defensive-minded Brian Bokoski and won 6-1. Garnett got a pair of takedowns despite Bokoski not doing much and even picking up a stall warning to tie the match up at 16 apiece.

With the Hokies knowing ninth-ranked Chris Diaz was picking up a forfeit at 141 pounds in the final match, Brock LiVorio toed the mat at 133 pounds against veteran Jeremy Shaw with essentially a six point lead even though the scoreboard read 16-16. Shaw got an early takedown, but LiVorio reversed him to his back for a five-point maneuver. Shaw eventually tied it up in the third period at 6-6, but LiVorio escaped and got a late takedown, plus riding time for the 10-6 win.

The Hokies will waste little time in hopping back on the mats as they host Gardner-Webb and UNC Greensboro Sunday. G-W and UNCG will kick things off at 2 p.m., followed by Tech and G-W and then Tech and UNCG finishing things off.

#15 Virginia Tech (11-3, 1-0 ACC) 25, North Carolina 16 (3-5-1, 1-2 ACC)
149: Brian Stephens (VT) maj. dec. Ky Corley, 18-9
157: #5 Jesse Dong (VT) dec. #3 Thomas Scotton, 5-4
165: Matt Epperly (VT) dec. Kyle Kiss, 3-1
174: Thomas Ferguson (UNC) wins by forfeit
184: #20 Tommy Spellman (VT) dec. Nick Tenpenny, 6-3
197: #12 Dennis Drury (UNC) tech fall Chris Penny, 6:49 (17-2)
285: Ziad Haddad (UNC) tech fall Tim Miller, 7:00 (19-4)
125: #16 Jarrod Garnett (VT) dec. Brian Bokoski, 6-1
133: Brock LiVorio (VT) dec. Jeremy Shaw, 10-6
141: #9 Chris Diaz (VT) wins by forfeit

For updates on Virginia Tech wrestling, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Wrestling).