OSU Wrestling Beats UNI 34-3 Behind Lockett's Late Rally

As he locked eyes with his opponent, Dee Lockett felt like time had frozen.

Lockett, Oklahoma State’s second-ranked 165-pounder, found himself in unchartered territory. Through nine matches as a freshman, he had yet to surrender a takedown. Until Friday.

So, trailing by 3 to Northern Iowa’s sixth-ranked Ryder Downey late in the third period of the match, Lockett tapped into one of his many self-appointed skillsets — precognition.

It’s one Lockett said has specifically carried him throughout his wrestling career. And on Friday, it paid dividends once more in No. 5 OSU’s 34-3 win against No. 13 Northern Iowa in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The reality of an upset felt more inevitable as time dwindled. Such unrest from the home crowd mounted pressure within Lockett’s mind. Still, he remained poised. Calm, cool and collected, as always. And Lockett seized his opportunity moments later.

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“I saw the opening for a double-leg (takedown) a lot earlier and I just waited,” Lockett said.

With 5 seconds remaining in the match, Lockett dove for Downey’s legs. Despite resistance, Lockett drove his feet. Shortly after, he raised Downey in the air and planted him firmly on his back.

Takedown secured. Near-fall points came shortly after as time expired. Moments later, Lockett secured a 6-4 decision, jolting GIA into a state of mayhem.

OSU fans praised Lockett for his timely heroics. But Cowboys’ coach David Taylor saw the match from a polar-opposite lens. And he highlighted that to reporters post-dual.

“Dee’s got to make it a little easier on himself,” Taylor said. “I think that’s the messaging.

“I think that just comes with time and experience.”

#OkState coach David Taylor on Dee Lockett’s comeback decision against UNI’s Ryder Downey. pic.twitter.com/frEHGN66Gb
— Daniel Allen (@bydanielallen25) January 31, 2026

Accountability was the preface of Taylor’s post-dual sentiment.

OSU dominated UNI from the opening bout, clinching four bonus-point victories. Yet, Taylor said he left his mat-side post with feelings of leftover effort.

At 125, seventh-ranked Troy Spratley cruised to a 6-1 decision over the Panthers’ (9-5) 32nd-ranked Trever Anderson. The night ended with a late pin sixth-ranked heavyweight Konner Doucet against UNI’s Grant Stromberg. And Doucet celebrated with a baseball arm swing toward the crowd.

The Cowboys’ (11-1) lone defeat came at 184, as Northern Iowa scraped by eighth-ranked Zack Ryder 3-1 in sudden victory, courtesy of a last-second reversal.

Still, Taylor headlined the squandered bonus-point opportunities left on the mat.

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Taylor noted how Spratley’s ranked win at 125 kickstarted OSU’s onslaught. But why settle for a decision? Why not stretch for a major decision?

At 149, No. 12 Casey Swiderski earned a 9-2 decision against 32nd-ranked Caleb Rathjen. And while a last-second takedown was waived off upon review, depriving Swiderski of a major decision, Taylor noted how an earlier push could have provided enough of a cushion to attain that.

OSU's Casey Swiderski celebrates victory with referee raising his hand after defeating Northern Iowa's Caleb Rathjen 9-2 at Gallagher-Iba Arena Jan. 30, 2026 — The referee raises Oklahoma State's 12th-ranked Casey Swiderski's hand in victory after the 149-pounder earned a 9-2 decision over Northern Iowa's 32nd-ranked Caleb Rathjen Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Swiderski was one of four Cowboys to record bonus-point victories as No. 5 OSU defeated No. 13 Northern Iowa 34-3. – Photo Courtesy OSU Ahtletics

And at 197, seventh-ranked Cody Merrill clinched a 2-0 decision against UNI's Carson Babcock. Merrill flashed his stellar riding ability, but failed to record a takedown. Taylor, of course, voiced his displeasure afterward.

“I just think there’s an expectation and standard of what we’re working towards,” Taylor said. “We’re not just trying to win duals, we’re not trying to just beat teams. We’re trying to dominate (teams), and we are trying to continue to get better and separate ourselves. That’s for the benefit of the team and individuals here. I think a lot of the guys can leave with improvements from this. We just have to keep getting better.”

Then there’s Lockett.

The freshman’s late surge holistically mirrored OSU’s team outing — flashes of brilliance tethered with lessons still to be learned.

For a freshman navigating his first collegiate season, adversity arrived abruptly and without warning. Yet, how Lockett responded resonated far beyond the scoreboard. For Taylor. And perhaps most importantly, for the college wrestling realm as a whole.

Oklahoma State freshman wrestler Dee Lockett has his hand raised by referee after securing 6-4 decision victory over Northern Iowa opponent at Gallagher-Iba Arena Jan. 30, 2026 — The referee raises Oklahoma State freshman LaDarion "Dee" Lockett's hand in victory after the second-ranked 165-pounder secured a dramatic 6-4 decision over Northern Iowa's sixth-ranked Ryder Downey Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. – Photo Courtesy OSU Athletics

His composure under pressure and belief in his instincts highlighted why he’s swiftly become one of OSU’s more talented wrestlers. And for Taylor, that experience mattered just as much as Lockett’s win itself.

“There’s a lot of guys that just don’t have the ability to get those takedowns,” Taylor said. “That’s good that he has that. It was good that he had some adversity. I don’t think he’d been taken down this year. So, it’s just big to get past that stuff now.

“That’s definitely the toughest match that he’s had so far in terms of things not going his way. To find a way, that’s good that a young kid (does not) get discouraged. He stayed pretty calm and got the takedown.”