LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brian Stears dodged the attack.

And then he seized the victory for the Bellarmine University wrestling team.

On Saturday afternoon in Knights Hall, with Bellarmine trailing Maryville heading into the final match, the sophomore heavyweight captured a 5-3 win to vault the Knights to a 21-20 victory over the Saints in Great Lakes Valley Conference dual action.

Stears, freshman Zach Larue (133), senior Gage Branson (141), freshman Devan Hendricks (157) and junior Eric Beck (165) tallied victories for Bellarmine (2-3, 1-0 GLVC), which delivered one of the biggest wins in the program's young history.

It all came down to the last match against Maryville (3-3, 0-1), which had rallied to take a 20-18 lead. In the third period, Stears was clinging to a 3-2 advantage over the Saints' Max Darrah. When Darrah made his move, Stears was ready, evading Darrah's lunge and pouncing on him for a takedown that effectively sealed a victory for both himself and the team.

Coach Spencer Adams noted before the dual that a strong start would be imperative for Bellarmine. The Knights trailed 3-0 after the first match but built a 9-3 lead after three contests following Larue's 6-4 decision over Alex Waggoner at 133 and Branson's fall over Tristan Barr at 141.

Bellarmine boosted its advantage to 18-6 after Hendricks edged Tanner Sparks 5-4 at 157 and Beck pinned Connor Villarmia at 165.

Maryville rallied to take a 20-18 advantage after recording a fall and two major decisions, but Stears halted the Saints' momentum in the final match in helping the Knights regroup for the key win.

Bellarmine will continue action in GLVC duals by wrestling Friday at UIndy.

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