Results (PDF)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Men's Gymnastics remains unbeaten at Huff Hull in 2016 with a hard-fought victory over Michigan in today's 434.000-430.500 win. The Orange and Blue captured four event titles on the day, led by freshman Alex Diab who claimed both the floor and rings crowns.

Illinois improved to 120-89-1 all-time against the Michigan Wolverines, who return to Ann Arbor with a 3-9 record and are still looking for their first Big Ten victory of the season. This was the first time that the sides met in Champaign since 2012.

Logan Bradley opened the afternoon on floor for the Illini with a mark of 14.600 to help the team to a 72.450 showing on the event. Diab won the event with a career-high score of 15.450, the second-best mark put up by an Illini on the event this season. Taylor Smith took home a fifth place finish on the opening event with a score of 14.650.

On pommel horse, Matt Foster led the way with a 15.250, good for his first event title of the season. Bradley finished second in the standings with a score of 14.850. Despite a fall, Brandon Ngai still finished third with a score of 14.750. Tyson Bull posted a career-best score with a 13.850 on the event. The Orange and Blue finished with a team score of 71.650 on pommel horse.

UI moved to the rings next, where the Illini would claim the top-four spots in the standings. Diab won the title with a career-best 15.500, the top mark by an Illinois gymnast this season. Dennis Minton took home second place with a score of 15.200 while Tom Gibbs posted a person-best 15.000 for third place. Max Mayr finished fourth at 14.850. Illinois combined for a team reading of 74.950 on the event, the best mark of the season.

Bobby Baker led the way for Illinois on the vault with a 15.000 to finish third in the standings. Fred Hartville was just behind with a 14.900 reading for fourth place and Blake Martin followed up with a 14.450. The Illini finished with a team tally of 72.000 on the event.

The Fighting Illini turned in three career highs on the parallel bars. Leading the way was Johnny Jacobson who posted the first 15.0 score of his career with a 15.100 to finish third. Matt Foster registered a 14.500 for a career high while Chandler Eggleston tied his personal best with the same mark. Mayr also hit 14.500 to tie with his teammates for fifth place. Illinois' team score of 72.600 on the event helped build a lead over the Wolverines who scored nearly four points lower on the same rotation.

Tyson Bull secured the third title of his career with a 15.350 reading on the high bar, a new personal best for the sophomore. Mayr took home second place when he tied his career high of 14.900 on the afternoon. Diab finished fifth with a 14.150. UI combined for a team score of 70.350 on high bar.

For the third time this season, the Orange and Blue tallied team scores of 70 or better on all six events. Additionally, for the second-straight meet, the Illini registered a score of 15.0 or better on every event. At the end of the day, eight marks of that caliber were achieved.

Diab finished second in the all-around standings with a final tally of 85.650.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Fighting Illini close out the regular season by hosting the defending national champions, Oklahoma, on Saturday, March 19. The meet is slated for a 1:30 p.m. CT start and will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.

EVENT WINNERS

Floor exercise – Alex Diab – 15.450

Pommel horse – Matt Foster – 15.250

Still rings – Alex Diab – 15.500

High bar – Tyson Bull – 15.350

NOTES

• Illini freshman Alex Diab won his second career titles on both the floor exercise and still rings to put his career title count at five.
• For the third time this season, the Orange and Blue tallied team scores of 70 or better on all six events.
• The Illini registered of score of 15.0 or better on every event for the second-straight meet and second time of the season. Eight marks of that caliber were achieved.
• Junior Matt Foster won his first title of the 2016 campaign on pommel horse. The crown was the sixth total of his career.
• Tyson Bull won the third high bar title of his career in today's meet. His career high score of 15.350 was also his second ever reading above the 15.0 mark.
• The Illinois rings unit produced the team's best combined reading of the season with a 74.950. Three Illini hit the 15.0 mark on the event.