It's time to listen to the Penn State men's gymnastics team.

They've been saying all year that their low scores are just the products of injuries and a late start in the renovated White Building gym.

Higher scores will come, they said.

Once guys are healthy, we'll prove we're still among the best in the country.

It's just going to take some more routines, more time in the gym — and then you'll see.

Last Sunday afternoon in Rec Hall, the Nittany Lions showed just how good they can be.

Ninth-ranked Penn State blew out No. 3 Michigan State and registered the fifth highest total score in the country this season. Penn State gymnasts finished first on every apparatus and the team set season-highs on four events.

Granted, the Spartans had faced Michigan on Friday and were resting some key competitors or going light on certain routines. But Penn State coach Randy Jepson was more concerned with how his own guys performed, as he has been all season.

"To finally see that score up on the board was a relief," he said. "I knew we were capable, it's just nice to get a good performance like that heading into Big Tens and NCAAs."

On senior night six Lions closed out their dual meet careers at Rec Hall. Ted Johnson had the best performance of his college career, winning three events and earning Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors.

"I don't know what came over me," he said after Jepson informed him he had been named. "After watching three senior meets before this I was pretty fired up and knew what I wanted to do."

Sophomore Matt Abboud, one of the many Lions who has competed through injuries this year, also had a breakthrough performance. His 52.450 score in the all-around is a season-best for the Lions, who have struggled without Jose Palacios, Dominic Brindle and Kevin Donohue competing in the all around.

"He's finally healthy," Jepson said of Abboud. "I wasn't surprised at all. He's healthy and he's comfortable, so he's going to perform at a very high level."

The Lions are "for the most part healthy" according to Jepson and have been working out kinks in routines for about three weeks. Instead of heavy repetitions, they have been doing half-routines, trying to smooth out skills and stick landings.

It's all old-hat for the gymnasts, who have become accustomed to the tedious repetition and impossible quest for perfection.

"We've been in this mode a while," Johnson said. "It just makes you want to get to NCAAs and show what you can do."