BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb bolted to a quick, 10-0 lead Wednesday night in Paul Porter Arena, but Duke rallied with wins in three of the final four bouts of the night to rally for an 18-16 win.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-7) won the night's first three weight classes, with Aedyn Concepcion dominating at 125 pounds to open things. Concepcion took a 4-0 lead after the first period, scoring on a takedown and a two-point near fall just before the horn. Duke's Ty Naquin cut into the lead with a takedown a the 48-second mark in the second period, but Concepcion escaped with just eight ticks left for a 5-2 lead.

Two more takedowns in the third period sealed the 10-3 win.

Todd Carter was the aggressor early at 133 pounds and sprinted to a 16-7 major decision. Carter scored on three takedowns in the first period and posted two more in the second period to lead 11-4 heading into the final two minutes. Carter did not give up an offensive point in the final period, adding two more takedowns and riding time for the final margin.

Trevon Majette followed his teammates' lead, aggressively taking a dominant early advantage. He scored on a takedown just 17 second into the match and nearly put Duke's Patrick Rowland away with a flurry late in the first period – adding a takedown and a four-point near fall with 90 seconds remaining. Neither wrestler scored in the second, with Majette adding a takedown in the third for his 10-4 decision.

Duke (7-8) finally got on the team scoreboard at 149 pounds, with 14th-ranked Josh Finesilver recording a 20-4 tech fall (3:35) over Corbin Dion. Wade Unger followed with a 6-3 decision over Taylor Parks at 157 pounds, but Gardner-Webb stemmed the tide.

RJ Mosley picked up a 10-4 decision at 165 pounds, scoring on four takedowns, an escape and nearly two minutes of riding time (1:52). That win put the Runnin' Bulldogs up 13-8 with four bouts remaining.

The Blue Devils 16th-ranked Matt Finesilver picked up a 10-0 major decision at 174 pounds to trim the lead to 13-12, before Gardner-Webb's Jha'Quan Anderson cruised to a 10-3 decision at 184 pounds.

Leading 4-2 heading into the final period, Anderson had two takedowns, an escape and a riding time advantage for his final margin of victory.

Gardner-Webb's Sam Mora nearly pulled off the night's quickest victory at 197, catching Kaden Russell early with a takedown and four-point near fall just 34 seconds into the first period. That 6-0 lead wouldn't hold, however, as Russell slowly gathered himself.

An escape, takedown and two-point near fall with two seconds on the clock cut the lead to 6-5 by the end of a furious first period. Russell escaped with just 24 seconds off the second period clock to tie the score, but Mora went back up with a takedown at the 1:07 mark. Russell responded with a quick reversal and nearly ended the bout with a four-point near fall as the horn sounded.

Leading 12-8, Russell defended well in the closing minutes and used 1:52 of riding time for the final score.

Gardner-Webb still held the team lead, 13-12, heading into the final weight class of the night. Duke's Jonah Niesenbaum would prevail, however, taking an 8-3 decision over Peyton McComas.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will get back into Southern Conference action on Friday night, traveling to face The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.

DUKE 18, GARDNER-WEBB 16
125: Aedyn Concepcion (Gardner-Webb) over Ty Naquin (Duke) (Dec 10-3)
133: Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) over Drake Doolittle (Duke) (MD 16-7)
141: Trevon Majette (Gardner-Webb) over Patrick Rowland (Duke) (Dec 10-4)
149: #14 Josh Finesilver (Duke) over Corbin Dion (Gardner-Webb) (TF 20-4 3:35)
157: Wade Unger (Duke) over Taylor Parks (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 6-3)
165: RJ Mosley (Gardner-Webb) over Gabe Dinette (Duke) (Dec 10-4)
174: #16 Matt Finesilver (Duke) over Evan Schenk (Gardner-Webb) (MD 10-0)
184: Jha'Quan Anderson (Gardner-Webb) over Vincent Baker (Duke) (Dec 10-3)
197: Kaden Russell (Duke) over Sam Mora (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 13-8)
285: Jonah Niesenbaum (Duke) over Peyton McComas (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 8-3)