ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In a rivalry that rarely lacks drama, Michigan State delivered one of its most composed performances of the season Sunday afternoon, edging Michigan 197.525–197.425 inside a tense Crisler Center.

In a meet decided by a tenth, every landing mattered. Every handstand held. Every stick drew a roar or a groan from the crowd.

Michigan State proved just steady enough as the Spartans built their total on balance across all four events, never dipping below a 49.275 and answering Michigan’s surges with poise. They opened on uneven bars highlighted by Sage Kellerman’s 9.925 and Olivia Zsarmani’s 9.900. From there, the meet settled into a back-and-forth rhythm.

Michigan countered on vault with a powerful 49.325, paced by Reyna Guggino’s 9.900 and a duo of 9.875s from Kayli Boozer and Sophia Diaz. The Wolverines looked every bit the home team early, attacking landings and feeding off the arena’s energy.

Michigan State continued to match that intensity on vault, posting a 49.425. Sage Kellerman soared to a 9.975, which was the highest vault score of the afternoon. While Olivia Zsarmani added a 9.925. The amplitude and control gave the Spartans the slight edge they would need by day’s end.

Beam became the hinge point of the afternoon. Michigan was exceptional there, turning in a meet-high 49.425. Carly Bauman and Kayli Boozer each delivered 9.900s, and Quincy Walters added a 9.875 in a rotation defined by calm precision. It was championship-level beam under pressure. Yet Michigan State refused to blink.

The Spartans’ 49.475 on the floor, anchored by Nikki Smith’s electric 9.950 and Tucker’s 9.925, kept them just ahead. Two teams separated by a tenth. Two lineups that looked postseason-ready.

Tucker (39.500) and Smith (39.475) led the way in the all-around for Michigan State, embodying the consistency that defined the afternoon. Michigan’s stars answered event for event, but the Spartans’ slightly sharper vault rotation ultimately proved decisive.