Feb. 26, 2000

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The sixth-ranked Illinois men's gymnastics team scored a season-high mark in a tough Big Ten loss to No. Michigan, 227.20-230.350 at Huff Hall Saturday night.

The Illini posted a season-high score on pommel horse as well, behind the second-place performances of horse specialists Matt Gill (Clarendon Hills, Ill.) and Paul Linnenburger (Mount Prospect, Ill.) with a mark of 9.650. The score is a career-high for Linnenburger.

"After last week's performance we knew we had to step up the intensity and we really did that tonight," head coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "We faltered on high bar and still had a strong showing and hung in there with the number one team in the nation."

Illinois also improved on its rings marks with a season-high score of 38.575 as a team Junior Linh Hoang (Houston, Texas) scored a 9.775 for third place and Leo Oka (Scarborough, Ontario) posted a 9.70 for fourth. Oka also placed second in the all-around with a 56.750. Freshman Bob Spelic (Cheswick, Pa.) recorded a 9.50 on high bar for second and school record holder Greg Cook (Batavia, Ill.) took second on parallel bars with a 9.650.

The Illini will be back in action next Saturday against Iowa and Michigan State in Iowa City, Iowa. Meet time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.