Cedar Falls, Iowa--The seventh-ranked Nebraska wrestling team edged No. 25 Northern Iowa, 21-15, Friday evening in Cedar Falls, Iowa. With exception to the Arizona State dual at National Duals that the Huskers pulled out, 19-18, the six point winning margin was the lowest this season for NU.

The Huskers earned leads of 9-3 and 12-6 before the Panthers staged a late comeback. NU, who won five of the ten matches, held off a UNI rally in the final match when eighth-ranked Brad Vering earned a 4-2 victory over No. 19 Ken Bigley in the 184-pound contest.

The higher-ranked wrestler won each time except for the meet's opening 197-pound matchup. Northern Iowa's Kyle Hansen scored the 4-3 upset over 10th-ranked veteran Scott Munson to give the Panthers an early 3-0 lead. Nebraska got on the board with a 5-4 win by No. 8 heavyweight J.R. Plienis over Burt Beamer and extended its lead when sixth-ranked Paul Gomez won by forfeit at 125 pounds.

UNI's eighth-ranked Eric Keller defeated 16th-ranked Todd Beckerman, 6-1 in the 133-pound matchup. Thirteenth-ranked Jose DeAnda notched his 21st win over Mark Rial, 15-8, at 141 pounds. In the 149-pound match, fourth-ranked Tony Davis handed 14th-ranked Husker Joe Henson just his third loss of the year in dual competition, 9-2.

Bryan Snyder extended the Husker lead to 18-9 with his fourth pin of the year and 22nd victory. The native of Easton, Pa., pinned Kevin Powell in 2:22.

Northern Iowa refused to go away, however. With two ranked wrestlers in the 165- and 174-pound matches, the Panthers held an advantage over Nebraska heading into the final match of the night, and UNI took advantage of it. At 165 pounds, 20th-ranked Nate Lawrenz defeated Josh Henson, 10-4, and at 174 pounds, No. 19 Randy Pugh defeated Charles McTorry, 15-10 to cut the Husker lead to 18-15.

But Vering, the Husker sophomore from Howells, Neb., came through for the Scarlet and Cream with a big 4-2 win to secure Nebraska's 13th dual victory of the season.

Nebraska returns to Lincoln to host Iowa State in dual competition on Sunday, Jan. 31. The meet begins at 2 p.m. in the Devaney Sports Center Main Arena with Alumni Day Recognition beginning at 1:30.