The eighth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers got a decision win by Devin Austin over 10^th-ranked Jason Buhr and a fall from Brock Biddle to help the Mountain Cats open up a double digit lead in a 23-13 victory over No. 25 Colorado-Mesa in Monday's opening round of the 2018 Desert Duals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
Brendan Howard gave the Mountain Cats a quick 4-0 lead with a 12-4 major decision over Tim Romero at 125 lbs., but Colorado-Mesa came right back at 133 lbs. to make it 4-3 when Bracken Lovell held off Matt Siszka, 4-1.
 
Pitt-Johnstown won the next two bouts to extend the lead to 11-3.   At 141 lbs. fifth-ranked Joey Alessandro defeated No. 10 Eduardo Pehna and top-ranked Chris Eddins followed with a 9-0 major decision over Daniel Van Hoose at 149 lbs.
 
After the Mavericks got a technical fall win by No. 7 Tayton Tawater over Corey Falleroni at 157 lbs. to narrow the gap to three, Austin used a take down with time running out in the third period to upend 10^th-ranked Buhr, 6-4.
 
Brock Biddle then pinned Seth Lathem at 1:43 to get the Mountain Cats' lead out to 20-8, before an 8-4 decision by Colorado-Mesa's Nolan Krone made it 19-11 after both teams were deducted one point for misconduct and unsportsmanlike conduct.
 
The Mavericks kept their hopes alive with a decision win at 197 lbs., but needed to win by fall in the final bout of the match.  However, Tyler Oliver would not allow that to happen.  Oliver scored an 11-2 major decision over Hunter Mooring and sealed the Mountain Cats' 13^th consecutive victory.
 
With the loss, Colorado-Mesa slipped to 2-2 on the year.