The University of Mount Olive men's wrestling team battled back through the middle of the lineup but dropped a 30–17 dual to Belmont Abbey.
BAC grabbed early momentum with close and bonus-point wins at the lower weights, including a 1–0 decision at 125, major decisions at 133 and 141, a fall at 149, and a sudden-victory win at 157 to take a 20–0 lead.
Mount Olive answered immediately behind Brent Nicolosi, who returned to the mat for the first time this season. Ranked fourth nationally by WrestleStat, Nicolosi dominated at 165, scoring a 16–1 technical fall in 4:41 to put the Trojans on the board.
Cole Hivnor kept the pressure on at 174, securing a pin in 2:03 and cutting into the deficit.
BAC responded with bonus-point victories at 184 and 197, but heavyweight John Domencic closed the dual on a high note for Mount Olive with a win by forfeit at 285.
Match Results (UMO)

• 125: Christian Decatur lost 1–0 to Kyle Simpson (BAC)
• 133: Brock Christian fell 10–2 to Elijah Carrington (BAC)
• 141: Benjamin Hernandez dropped a 12–4 decision to Luke Kunath (BAC)
• 149: Gable Pauole fell by pin at 3:44 to Skyler Caban (BAC)
• 157: Hunter Newell lost 4–1 in sudden victory to Will Nix (BAC)
• 165: Brent Nicolosi def. Austin Marry (BAC), TF 16–1 (4:41)
• 174: Cole Hivnor def. Palmer Smith (BAC), Fall 2:03
• 184: Jack MacKiernan fell 11–3 to Kyler Pickard (BAC)
• 197: Nathan Hampton was pinned at 2:16 by Caleb Moore (BAC)
• 285: John Domencic def. Nathan Carnes (BAC), Forfeit

Extra Matches

• 125: Luke Green lost by medical forfeit to Jacob Dusche (BAC)
• 157: Christian Orozco lost by technical fall, 18–3 (6:06), to Alex Ropski (BAC)

Final Score: BAC 30, Mount Olive 17
Mount Olive moves to 5-5 overall with a 3-2 record in conference play.  They return home on Jan. 15 against UNC Pembroke at 7:00 PM