Feb. 23, 2002

Minneapolis, Minn. - Two-time NCAA champion Clay Strother paced the eighth-ranked University of Minnesota men's gymnastics team to a 213.675-201.600 victory over 15th-ranked Illinois-Chicago at Williams Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Strother took all-around honors by winning four of the individual event titles, as he finished with an excellent all-around score of 55.075.

Freshman Neil Faustino was instrumental in the Flames' cause, finishing second in the all-around competition with a season-best of 51.175. Faustino grabbed a pair of event runner-up finishes, tying for second on vault (9.300) and floor exercise (9.075).

The Gophers managed to win each event on their way to a season-high tally.

The Flames will be back in action next weekend, as they will spend three days in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On Friday, Mar. 1, the Flames will take on the host Air Force Falcons and Stanford. Two days later on Sunday, Mar. 3, UIC will compete against Air Force once again.