After seven matches, Central Michigan wrestling lead eighth-ranked Michigan 12-9 on Friday, but three consecutive upper-weight losses propelled the Wolverines to a 22-12 victory over the 19th-ranked Chippewas.

In front of a sold out Cliff Keen Arena crowd (1,800 capacity), CMU missed out on another opportunity to knock off a top 10-ranked team in a dual meet.

CMU went to Ann Arbor just five days removed from a 26-9 defeat against the cream of the Mid-American Conference crop, unbeaten No. 4 Missouri on Jan. 17 at McGuirk Arena.

“We knew the best part of their lineup was the upper-weights — especially from 184 (pounds) and up,” said Head Coach Tom Borrelli. “We kind of had to win the dual meet from down below (at the lower weight classes) and we were right in there, but it just didn’t happen.”

After falling early into a 6-0 deficit, senior and 16th-ranked 141-pounder Zach Horan gave CMU its first three points of the meet, beating George Fisher in a 3-1 decision.

CMU’s 10th-ranked 149-pounder Colin Heffernan lost his second consecutive match this week to No. 6 Alec Pantaleo in a 10-4 Decision. Heffernan, a redshirt sophomore, lost to Missouri’s No. 3 Lavion Mayes in a 5-4 decision a week ago.

“I can’t be too upset,” Borrelli said. “He’s doing what we’re asking him to do — score points, attack and sometimes crazy stuff happens. At least he’s being the aggressor in the match.”

CMU went on to snap off three-straight decisions with victories from senior Lucas Smith at 157 pounds, sophomore Jordan Atienza at 165 pounds and senior Mike Ottinger at 174 pounds.

Fresh off a 3-2 decision over Missouri’s Le’Roy Barnes, No. 12 Smith picked up another big win over No. 5 Brian Murphy in a 5-4 decision.

Atienza picked up a much needed win after losing his last three dual meets, beating Garrett Sutton 7-3.

“He didn’t do anything differently, except he rode better tonight,” Borrelli said. “He was still taking the same shots and he ended up finishing his shots, but he really rode a lot better tonight.”

With the score 9-9 and coming off back-to-back meets of knocking off the ninth-ranked wrestler in his weight class, No. 9 Ottinger picked up another victory over a ranked opponent. This time he took down No. 14 Davonte Mahomes 8-4, giving CMU the 12-9 lead with three matches remaining.

However, Jordan Ellingwood (184), Jackson Lewis (197) and Newton Smerchek (285) all lost their matches to wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in each of the upper three weight classes.

Ellingwood and Smerchek both lost by technical fall, tallying the final score 22-12.

“The competition at that weight is very, very good,” Borrelli said. “It’s not like we aren’t competing. It’s just we’ve faced some talented, talented people.”

CMU travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa Friday to take on conference foe Northern Iowa. The Panthers are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in MAC dual meets. UNI is coming off a 24-12 victory over Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia, Jan. 17.

The Chippewas end the trip in Ames, wrestling the Cyclones of Iowa State this Sunday.