The Illini men’s gymnastics team advanced to the final day of NCAA Championships after setting the first round of qualifying ablaze with a season high score and a second place finish.

Ranked eighth nationally before Thursday’s qualifying meet at noon, the Illini upset pre-meet favorite Ohio State (fourth), who will not advance to Friday’s finals, and finished one spot ahead of Michigan (third).

In Penn State’s Recreation Center, the Illini set season highs on floor exercise (37.950), rings (37.750), and pommel horse (34.700) to guarantee them a spot in Friday’s finals. Only the top three teams advance from this session.

Following the fourth rotation Thursday, the Illini led the entire field with a score of 180.950, but in the fifth and final rotation, Stanford’s pommel horse score (35.600) beat the Illini’s performance on vault (34.850), allowing them to squeeze by.

Stanford, the top qualifier from the first session, finished just .050 of a point ahead of Illinois for the top spot.

The second session of qualifying will take place at 6 p.m. tonight and the top three teams among California-Berkley, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Temple will round out the finals competition.

Army, Iowa, and Ohio State will not compete again this season. The Illini, though, will see action tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the final day of NCAA team competition.

Check back with DailyIllini.com for more updates as the championship continues