Results (PDF)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite claiming four event titles on the day, the Illinois men's gymnastics team suffered its first loss of the 2016 season at the hands of Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania. The Fighting Illini led following the third and fourth rotations on the day after strong showings on both the still rings and vault but couldn't hold on down the stretch, falling to the Nittany Lions 429.200-430.200.

"You can have an average meet of guys just kind of hitting routines throughout the whole day, but that's not what we had. We had guys hit great sets and then we had guys have meltdowns," stated head coach Justin Spring. "This loss should be a catalyst to get the team performing better. I've seen losses spark teams into taking a big stride forward and I've seen losses do absolutely nothing for teams. It looks like the team is frustrated and disappointed; and that's good, they should be."

After watching the Nittany Lions raise their 2015 Big Ten Championship banner prior to the meet, the Fighting Illini opened the meet with a team score of 70.850 on the pommel horse; the team's third 70+ score this season on the event. Brandon Ngai led all competitors with a 15.250 for his third-straight title of the season. Logan Bradley tied for second in the standings with a reading of 14.500 while Bobby Baker took home fifth place, scoring a 14.350.

Heading to the floor exercise trailing by over two points, the Illini mounted a comeback. Chandler Eggleston secured his second floor title of the season, posting a 15.350. Alex Diab tied for third on the event with a score of 15.000. UI finished with a team score of 72.550 on floor exercise for the day.

The Illini vault unit came up big with a team reading of 73.450 on the afternoon. Eggleston earned his second title of the day, posting a 15.050. This marks the second-consecutive meet that Eggleston has won the pair of event titles in a meet. Baker claimed grabbed a runner-up finish with his first 15.000 or better of the season. Fred Hartville made his 2016 debut and claimed third place with a reading of 14.800 in his first competitive routine since winning the 2015 Big Ten vault event title.

On the still rings, Diab claimed the first still rings event title of his Illinois career, posting a 15.300 on the event. Max Mayr turned in a season-best 14.850 for a fourth place finish. Tom Gibbs added a 14.150. The Orange and Blue finished with a combined tally of 72.100 on the still rings.

With four rotations in the books, the Fighting Illini held a 288.950-288.550 lead over the Nittany Lions. Up to that point, Illinois had claimed all four event titles.

However, high bar again proved to be a difficult event for the Orange and Blue, finishing with a team score of 69.600 on the event. Mayr led the Illini with a mark of 14.300 for a second place finish. Tyson Bull tied his career high on the event with a 14.250 for a third place finish, his best ever as an Illini. Diab finished fifth, scoring a 14.100.

Finishing on the parallel bars, the Illini headed into the rotation trailing by 2.05 points. The Illini were led by Johnny Jacobson's 14.700 on the event, but ultimately fell short of catching the Nittany Lions. UI finished with a team reading of 70.650. Jacobson picked up a third place finish followed by Gibbs who brought home a fifth place reading of 14.400, a season best.

"We really gave the meet away again and again," said Spring. "It's all too familiar from Big Tens last year. Hopefully this sparks the team up a bit."

Diab finished as the runner up in the all-around competition, compiling a score of 85.250, a career best for the freshman. The reading is also the second-best mark produced by an Illini gymnast this season.

LOOKING AHEAD

Upon return from University Park, Pennsylvania, the Fighting Illini will play host to the UIC Flames and Temple on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Huff Hall. Action is slated for 4 p.m. CT and can be streamed for free from FIGHTINGILLINI.com.

"Home will be nice," Spring said. "Being home is going to be key for these guys. I think it's a lot being on the road like this."

EVENT TITLE WINNERS

Floor Exercise: Chandler Eggleston – 15.350

Pommel Horse: Brandon Ngai – 15.250

Still Rings – Alex Diab – 15.300

Vault – Chandler Eggleston – 15.050

NOTES

• With a career-best score of 15.300 on the still rings, freshman Alex Diab claimed his first rings title in the orange and blue.
• Brandon Ngai posted a mark of 15.250 on the pommel horse to win his third-consecutive title on the event and third of his Illinois career.
• Chandler Eggleston claimed both the floor exercise and vault crowns for the second-straight meet and fifth time of his career.
• The Illini posted six scores at 15.0 or better for the second time this season. Illinois had eight 15.0+ marks in its season opener against UIC.
• In his first competitive routine since winning the 2015 Big Ten Vault Championship, Fred Hartville returned after suffering a season-ending injury during warm-ups at the NCAA Championships and posted a 14.800 on vault for third place honors.