CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's gymnastics team came out on top in a battle of Big Ten unbeatens, taking down No. 6 Penn State, 411.350-404.550.
"I liked how we finished on high bar again, that's great," said head coach Justin Spring. "Vault was good, vault was solid. We didn't do anything outstanding today, to be honest."
The Fighting Illini began the meet on floor, where Taylor Smith earned his first event title of his career, turning in a 13.700. Alex Diab scored a 13.650, while Bobby Baker and Johnny Jacobson each had a 13.600 to help the Illini to a 67.650 team score.
Brandon Ngai led Illinois on pommel horse with a score of 14.150. Joey Peters and Tom Gibbs each turned in a 13.400, as the Illini recorded a 66.100 team score in the event.
On rings, Diab earned his fourth-straight title of the season, recording a 14.700. Baker turned in a 14.000, and Peters' season-best 13.900 score were key in a 70.050 team score for Illinois.
Baker earned his third vault title of the season, and Jacobson earned the first one of his career, as the two Illini gymnasts tied with 14.250 scores in the event. In his Illini debut, freshman Jacob Light recorded a 14.000. Illinois posted a 69.950 team score on the fourth rotation of the day.
The Illini would head to parallel bars next, and Jacobson would claim his second title of the day, and fourth-straight parallel bars title of the season with a 14.550 score. Tom Gibbs added a 13.500, and Tyson Bull posted a 13.250 as Illinois recorded a team score of 67.150 to close out the fifth rotation.
The Illini would finish strong, ending the day on high bar. Bull won his third event title on high bar, recorded a season-best 14.900. Chandler Eggleston scored a 14.250, and Baker posted a 13.850, contributing to a 70.450 team score in the event.
"Honestly, if we start the way we've been finishing we can cruise through Big Tens," Spring said. "But we haven't been starting well and (high bar) is going to be our starting event. So that's going to be a game-changer at State Farm Center.
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Illinois Men's Gymnastics will be off for three weeks before returning to Champaign to host Iowa. The meet with the Hawkeyes is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. CT at Huff Hall.
From Feb. 16-18, selected gymnasts from the nation's top programs will compete for spots on the U.S. National Team at the Winter Cup in Las Vegas.
