For Iowa’s men’s gymnastics team, Feb. 23’s meet against Nebraska did – and didn’t – end as expected.

The final score, 402.800-398.500 for No. 5 Nebraska, was closer than expected for the difference in team rankings. What really wasn’t expected was what ultimately put a win out of reach.

It started on the floor, where troubles with the landings – and even staying on the competition mat – plagued the athletes. Pommel horse didn’t go much better, where two of the five competitors had their feet on the floor before the end of their routines.

Come the vault, and Nebraska didn’t prove to be immune to falls, either. Three Huskers dinged their scores on messy landings – but only one more than Iowa’s vault team.

Rings ended up being one of the highlights of the meet. The Hawkeyes completed their routines, and most stuck the landings with grace, earning big catchup points.

The parallel bars sunk the score back again, even if Nebraska didn’t do too hot either.

Both teams pulled their lowest scores on the high bars. Last time the men were in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, they recorded two falls on the high bar. Against Nebraska, they recorded another two for this event. What made this event a highlight, however, was the event title-earning performance of sophomore Andrew Herrador in his first time out back on that bar this season since his injury.

Of the six events, Iowa earned titles in five – Herrador’s 13.700 on high bar, senior Austin Hodges’ 14.200 on pommel horse, junior Jake Brodarzon’s rings score of 13.900, and senior Dylan Ellsworth’s score of 13.750 on the parallel bars.

The quality was there. The consistency? Not so much.