BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech wrestling team saw its two-match winning streak ended Sunday, falling to UNC Greensboro 20-17 at Cassell Coliseum.

Eric Decker got the Hokies on the board at 174 pounds with a 4-1 decision over Mikal McKee. He led 1-0 going into the third period and turned McKee for two nearfall points. The riding time gave him an extra point for the 4-1 win.

At 184 pounds, Tommy Spellman returned to the mat after sitting out Friday night with the flu, but wasn't back at full strength and was pinned quickly by Jeremy Cannon just 1:11 into the match. At 197 pounds, UNCG's Daren Burns, ranked 11^th in the country, tied the school record with his 98^th career win, beating D.J. Bruce 6-2.

David Marone and Justin Staylor both won their matches to tie things up heading into intermission. Marone out-quicked Ryan Hsu all match, picking up two takedowns in the second period en route to a 6-4 win at heavyweight. Staylor wiggled out of what looked like a sure-fire pin by Mitchell Johnson at 125 pounds, and ended up coming back with an escape, takedown and three nearfall points in the third period to win 13-7.

After the break, 17^th-ranked Jeff Hedges of UNCG took care of business against Jared Jones, picking up a 14-4 major decision to make it 13-9, Spartans. Freshman Chris Diaz put the Hokies right back on top with a dominating technical fall at 141 pounds over Ben Wilmore. Diaz took down Wilmore early in the first and then turned him four times to take a 12-0 lead heading into the second period. Wilmore escaped but Diaz quickly took him back down and turned one last time for the 16-1 technical fall at the 4:16 mark.

With Tech leading 14-13, UNCG came back with a big win at 149 pounds. Marcus Hannah reversed Tech's Matt Rosen late to pick up a big 4-3 win. After Andre Johnson was beaten by Marcus Ring, 9-1, at 157 pounds, it came down to Matt Epperly at 165 pounds. Epperly needed a pin to tie it up, and nearly got it late in the match. Tied at 3-3, Epperly reversed Byron Sigmon, using a headlock to put Sigmon on his back for nearfall points. But Sigmon squirmed free and Epperly went on for the 8-4 win.

Tech (6-6) returns to action next Saturday, hosting Chattanooga at 7 p.m., at Cassell Coliseum

UNC Greensboro (8-5)  20
Virginia Tech (6-6)   17

174: Eric Decker (VT) dec. Mikal McKee, 4-1
184: Jeremy Cannon (UNCG) fall Tommy Spellman, 1:11 
197: No. 11 Daren Burns (UNCG) dec. D.J. Bruce, 6-2 
285: David Marone (VT) dec. Ryan Hsu, 6-4
125: Justin Staylor (VT) dec. Mitchell Johnson, 13-7 
133: No. 17 Jeff Hedges (UNCG) maj. dec. Jared Jones, 14-4 
141: Chris Diaz (VT) TF Ben Wilmore, 16-1 (4:16)
149: Marcus Hannah (UNCG) dec. Matt Rosen, 4-3 
157: Marcus Ring (UNCG) maj. dec. Andre Johnson, 9-1 
165: Matt Epperly (VT) dec. Byron Sigmon, 8-4