(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa, Jan. 9)- Fourth-seeded McKendree University defeated unseeded Northwestern College (Iowa), 31-12, in the preliminary round of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Saturday morning.

The Bearcats will face Lindenwood University at 1 p.m., in the championship quarterfinals.

Following a forfeit loss at 125 pounds, junior Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./Alton) (Godfrey, Ill./Alton) pinned Nathan Manfull to even the score at 6-6, and sophomore Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) defeated Matt Dowell in a 9-3 decision to retake the lead. Two straight losses by decision put the Bearcats down 12-9, but the Bearcats did not lose another match to cruise to the 31-12 victory.

NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals
Preliminary Results
No. 4 McKendree defeats Northwestern College, 31-12

125 - Diego Quintana (NC) by Forfeit
133 - Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./Alton) (McK) pinned Nathan Fanfull (NC), FALL 0:16
141 - Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (McK) defeated Matt Dowell (NC), DECISION 9-3
149 - Levi Price (NC) defeated Jon Burns (McK), DECISION 6-3
157 - Brian Heiberger (NC) defeated Matt Beasley (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) (McK), DECISION 5-3
165 - David Dwyer (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) (McK) defeated Luke Evjen (Nc), DECISION 6-1
174 - Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./Tuttle) (McK) defeated Aaron Ruskell (NC), FALL 1:22
184 - Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) (McK) defeated David Carter (NC), FALL 0:32
197 - Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) (McK) defeated Nic Leither (NC), DECISION 3-1
HWT - Chas Maloch (Corona, Calif./Santiago) (McK) defeated Brad Hughes (NC), MAJOR DECISION 9-0