Senior Nick Marable won the final bout of the night to ensure a Tigers victory.
The Missouri wrestling team entered the final match of its season opener against Illinois on Thursday at Hearnes Center trailing 16-15. But senior and two-time All-American Nick Marable defeated Conrad Polz 3-2 at 165 pounds to lift the Tigers to a 18-16 victory.
Nathan McCormick, Max Askren, Brent Haynes and Mark Ellis were the four other Tigers to win their matches.
Missouri will hit the mat again Saturday when it competes in the Missouri Open in Warrensburg.