UCLA Makes Stunning Comeback on Floor to Edge Michigan State

LOS ANGELES – In front of a crowd of 10,681 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom and a nationally-televised audience on FOX, No. 6 UCLA made an exhilarating comeback in the final rotation to defeat No. 5 Michigan State, 197.300-197.200. The Bruins trailed by seven-tenths of a point before scoring a national-best 49.800 on floor exercise, capped by a meet-clinching perfect 10.0 from Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles. 

The Bruins (6-2 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten) are well-known for their floor parties, but Saturday’s party was a full-out rave, with each competitor building up the scores. Leadoff performer Emily Lee started with a 9.875 on her first floor routine of the year. Emma Malabuyo followed with a 9.900. Freshman Macy McGowan scored her first career 9.950. Brooklyn Moors and Chae Campbell went back-to-back with 9.975s, setting the stage for Chiles’ fifth career 10 on floor.

With UCLA surging and regaining all of the momentum in the room, Michigan State could not hold on to its lead, scoring 49.000 on balance beam. After their final competitor Gabrielle Stephen finished with a 9.825 to give the Spartans a one-tenth lead, the fate of the meet rested in Chiles’ hands. Needing a 9.925 to win the meet for UCLA, the junior delivered with a 10.0 to give the Bruins the narrow victory.

Jordan Chiles’ second perfect 10.0 of the season is a must-watch ??

?? @statefarm pic.twitter.com/Slf4l5vVr1

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 2, 2025

“That was incredible. It was one of those moments in sport that you live for. It was a really special moment,” said The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Janelle McDonald. “I couldn’t be more proud of their resilience and their fight and grit in that moment. That said a lot about who our team is.”

The meet started out close, with UCLA taking a 49.350-49.300 lead after recording a season-high on vault. Chiles led the team with a 9.925 to match her season best, McGowan scored a new career-high of 9.900, and Campbell earned a 9.875. Freshman Riley Jenkins made her collegiate debut, scoring a 9.850 on a Yurchenko 1.5. Michigan State kept it close with a 49.300 on uneven bars, led by Sage Kellerman’s 9.925. 

UCLA continued fighting in rotation two, with Campbell, Mika Webster-Longin and Emma Malabuyo starting with consecutive marks of 9.850, all season-highs for each gymnast. Frida Esparza also added a 9.850, but the Bruins finished with a 49.150 after a mishap on the low bar from Chiles. Meanwhile, Michigan State had a historic vault rotation, recording a school record 49.600, the highest vault score in the nation this season. Three Spartans, Olivia Zsarmani, Nikki Smith and Kellerman, each scored 9.950s, enabling Michigan State to take the lead, 98.900-98.500. 

The Spartans increased their lead in rotation three after scoring 49.300 on floor to UCLA’s 49.000 on beam. The Bruins started with back-to-back 9.850s from Emily Lee and Chiles, but Malabuyo owas the only other Bruin to score above 9.7, earning a meet-winning 9.925. 

Nothing shakes this @uclagymnastics anchor ?

Watch Emma Malabuyo score a 9.925 on beam #B1GWGym on FOX ?? pic.twitter.com/EF7MKM6vgl

— Big Ten Gymnastics (@B1GGymnastics) February 1, 2025

Down 148.200-147.500, the Bruins needed to be nearly perfect to try to catch Michigan State, and they nearly were, recording the No. 4 floor score in school history and the team’s highest floor since also scoring 49.800 on Feb. 23, 2020. This was just the sixth score of 49.800 or higher by any UCLA team on any event. 

The Bruins will next compete in Washington on Friday, Feb. 7, taking on the Huskies at 6:30 pm PT. 

Team Standings

1. UCLA 197.300

2. Michigan State 197.200

Individual Event Winners

All-Around: Nikki Smith, Michigan State (39.425)

Vault: Olivia Zsarmani, Nikki Smith, Sage Kellerman, Michigan State (9.950)

Uneven Bars: Sage Kellerman, Michigan State (9.925)

Balance Beam: Emma Malabuyo, UCLA (9.925)

Floor Exercise: Jordan Chiles, UCLA (10.00)