GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  Riley Butt flipped and pinned Colorado Mesa's Ruben Samuelson in the opening period of his 285-pound match Thursday night, elevating visiting Western Colorado from behind to score a 21-17 non-conference dual win against the 18th-ranked Mavericks.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. CMU, 21-17
Records: Western 3-1, CMU 1-1
Location: Brownson Arena, Grand Junction, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the deciding match, Samuelson earned an early takedown and was trying to turn Butt onto his back. However, Butt turned the tables with a reverse that laid Samuelson flat on his back for the pin at the 2:17 mark, bringing Western back from a 17-15 deficit to upset the host Mavericks.
• Western got an early decision from Devin Gomez at 133 pounds that cut in half CMU's forfeit win at 125.
• After the Mavs extended their lead to 9-3 at 141, the Mountaineers reeled off three consecutive wins, beginning with Eyen Chavez' 7-2 decision at 149. Chavez never trailed in the bout, only surrendering one final point on an escape when attempting to quickly jump back in for a takedown that would have added a bonus point for a major decision.
• Vincent Cabral got a first-period takedown that he made stand up for a 4-2 decision at 157 that tied the team scores a 9-9, then Jacob Blandford opened with a first period takedown that he, too, coaxed into a decision (7-1) for Western's first lead of the night, 12-9.
• The Mavericks looked out of it when they were down 9-1 in the 174 bout, but a huge rally turned into an 18-9 major that lifted CMU back in front in the topsy-turvy team scores.
• Hunter Richardson posted a 5-0 shutout decision at 184 for the third consecutive lead change, but the Mavs earned a major at 197 for a fourth lead change and a 17-15 lead on the scoreboard.
• Twice last season Samuelson had gotten the better of Butt, only to have the tide turned in what proved to be the deciding bout of the night, as Butt's pin was the fifth lead change in a row, one that sent Western to the team victory.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineer reserves will travel to Hays, Kansas, for Sunday's Bob Smith Open, hosted by Fort Hays State.