On paper, the ISU wrestling team was the underdog going into its meet against second-ranked Nebraska on Sunday.

On the mat, the seventh-ranked Cyclones reminded the Cornhuskers that they are the reigning Big 12 Champions with a convincing 22-12 win in Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones won five of the first six matches of the meet – all of which were between ranked opponents.

“We dominated the No. 2 team in the country, or what people assume to be the No. 2 team in the country,” said ISU senior David Bertolino (197 pounds), who upset seventh-ranked Craig Brester. “And I kind of knew that going in. I was confident that we were going to win. I thought we were going to win all 10 matches.”

In its last dual meet of the season, Iowa State (16-4, 3-1 Big 12) denied the Cornhuskers (14-3, 3-1) of their first undefeated conference season in the 98-year history of the program.

Cyler Sanderson (157 pounds) secured the dual victory with two matches remaining, scoring 14-4 major decision over Nebraska’s Chris Oliver. Just two matches earlier, 13th-ranked Nick Gallick (141 pounds) pinned 20th-ranked Mike Rowe to build an 18-3 team lead.

With the Big 12 Tournament less than two weeks away, coach Cael Sanderson said he likes the way the team is wrestling.

“We wrestled well,” Sanderson said. “There is always room to improve, and that’s what practice is for, but this is a good win for us. More importantly, a lot of individuals, their confidence is up, and they feel good about what they’re doing.”

No. 1 Jake Varner (184 pounds) controlled 13th-ranked Vince Jones en route to a 5-1 victory to start the dual.

Bertolino (20-10) followed with one of the best wins of his five-year career, scoring an escape 10 seconds into the second tie-breaking overtime period in a 7-6 victory over the seventh-ranked Cornhusker.

Bertolino gave up a takedown 12 seconds into the match, but rallied from the early deficit with two takedowns in regulation. The senior staved off several deep shots by Brester (20-4) and rode out the Cornhusker in the first overtime period.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Bertolino, who was wrestling for in Hilton Coliseum for his final time. “I dreamed of this moment and how my last match [in Hilton] was gonna be. I couldn’t ask for a better opponent, a better atmosphere – everything was in place for a perfect way to go out.”

Sixth-ranked David Zabriskie (heavyweight) scored a takedown on the edge of the mat with seven seconds left to win his match against No. 16 Jon May, 3-1. Sixth-ranked Nick Fanthorpe (133 pounds) used a third-period takedown to edge 10th-ranked Kenny Jordan, 6-4.