David Zabriskie is used to being the closer.

The sixth-ranked sophomore heavyweight is usually the last to wrestle and is often sent to the mat with the meet in the balance.

Sunday’s dual against 11th-ranked Missouri was tied after the first nine matches.

Zabriskie came through again, scoring a 7-3 decision over 14th-ranked Missouri sophomore Mark Ellis to win the dual.

“I’m definitely getting a little too used to it,” Zabriskie said.

Seventh-ranked Iowa State (15-4, 2-1 Big 12) built an early lead in the 18-15 dual win, claiming the first three matches.

Missouri won the next three, setting the stage for three matchups of ranked competitors to close the dual.

No. 1-ranked Jake Varner (184) scored a 3-1 decision over fifth-ranked Raymond Jordan to put Iowa State ahead, 15-9.

Varner (22-0) controlled the tie-up against Jordan, enabling him to neutralize the Tiger junior’s offense and set up his own. He secured a takedown with 14 seconds left in the second period for the final margin of victory.

Varner was 0-2 against Jordan (21-2) last year, including a 4-3 loss in the Big 12 finals.

“It’s a big win, but these don’t matter until the NCAAs,” Varner said.

Sixth-ranked Missouri sophomore Max Askren (197) then pinned 19th-ranked senior David Bertolino from the bottom position to tie the dual with one match remaining.

After a scoreless first period, Zabriskie (23-4) shot in on Ellis (17-8) and snatched an ankle for a takedown midway through the second period.

Two escapes by the Tiger tied the score going into third period, but Zabriskie pulled away with an escape and two takedowns in the third period.

The dual was the third meet Zabriskie has won for the Cyclones in the final match.

Zabriskie scored a victory in the heavyweight finals of the Big 12 Tournament last March to secure the Cyclones’ first outright conference title in 25 years. He also completed a victory over previously No. 1-ranked Minnesota in early December.

Zabriskie, 21, has learned to control his nervous energy.

“When I first go out, I have the extra drive, and then I’m just kind of thinking of my own match,” Zabriskie said. “After being out there for 30 seconds, I’ve already blocked out the team portion.

“I always want to go out there and do my best and win my match, so when the team is on the line, it’s just a bonus for me.”

Coach Cael Sanderson feels comfortable with Zabriskie on the mat.

“Zabriskie is real consistent,” Sanderson said. “His effort is always the same, and that’s what we love about him. He is going out there to put it all on the line and do what it takes. We know we’re never going to lose with him because of a lack of effort.”

Iowa State lost most of the scrambles in the dual to the Tigers (9-3, 1-1-1 Big 12) and lost several close matches as a result.

Sanderson said some of the Cyclones wrestled well, but he wasn’t pleased with the team’s attitude.

“We’re ready, and we’re prepared to be the best team, but we’ve got to take it,” Sanderson said. “We’ve got to go out and get after it a little bit more, be more aggressive, do the things that we’ve been working on in practice a little bit more. It’s a small adjustment we need to make.”