Final Results 

MINNEAPOLIS - The Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team dropped its first dual meet of the season on Saturday, as the Orange and Blue fell to No. 6 Minnesota 408.800-406.550. The Illini were led by junior Alex Diab and freshman Max Diab, who locked up event titles on still rings (15.000) and vault (14.700), respectively. 

"Today we had a chance to put the meet away and we dropped the ball," Associate Head Coach Daniel Ribeiro said. "This is an important opportunity for this team to come together and make the changes that need to be made so that this doesn't happen again. Championship teams use these losses as opportunities to learn and take their game to the next level and I believe that this team has what it takes to make that happen."

Senior Brandon Ngai got things started for the Illini on pommel horse, finishing with a 14.100 to claim his 19th career title on the apparatus. In his return from injury, sophomore Michael Paradise posted a 13.800 to place second in the event. UI was on floor next and were led by senior Bobby Baker and sophomore Sebastian Quiana. Baker posted a 14.400 to place second, while Quiana finished with a 14.300, good for fourth place in the event. 

The Diab brothers dominated the next two events for the Orange and Blue, as the Glen Ellyn, Illinois, natives posted the top scores on both still rings and vault. Alex scored a season-best 15.000 to win his 14th career title on still rings, while Max posted a season and career-best 14.700 on vault to claim his first career event title. 

In the fifth rotation of the night, Baker posted the top Illinois score on high bar (13.550) and placed second on the event. The meet came down to the final rotation, as Minnesota narrowly edged out the Illini to come away with the victory. The Illini were led by junior Johnny Jacobson on parallel bars, who earned a fourth-place finish in the event with a 14.000.  

Event Titles 

Pommel Horse - Brandon Ngai (14.100) (19th career PH title)

Still Rings - Alex Diab (15.000) (14th career rings title)

Vault - Max Diab (14.700)

Up Next

The Illini will get set for the annual Winter Cup, held in Las Vegas. The three day meet will begin on Thursday, February 15, and conclude on Saturday, February 17. 

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