Sunrise, Fla. • Sam Merrill scored 21 points Saturday and Utah State held Florida without a field goal for six minutes down the stretch to win 65-62 in the Orange Bowl Classic.
Merrill went 5 for 10 from 3-point range and added nine rebounds and five assists. Utah State won despite losing hard-luck center Neemias Queta to an injury in the first half.
The Aggies (12-2) improved to 3-0 in games decided by a one-possession margin. Florida (7-4) continued to struggle after being ranked sixth in the preseason.
The Gators missed their first 14 shots, and missed seven in a row in the final minutes after taking a 55-54 lead. Diogo Brito's basket with 4:15 left put the Aggies ahead to stay, and he went 4 for 4 from the free throw line in the final 25 seconds.
Senior Kerry Blackshear led Florida with 22 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. He went 15 for 17 from the free throw line.
The Gators outrebounded the tallest team in the nation 41-33 but shot only 32 percent, including 4 for 17 from 3-point range.
Justin Bean had 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Utah State.
REINJURED
Queta, who recently returned from a knee injury, limped to the locker room in the first half. He went to the floor hard and was shaken up when he collided with a Florida player and was called for an offensive foul.
Queta averaged 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds last season as a freshman.
BIG PICTURE
The Aggies were 34th in votes in the latest AP poll, and two wins this week might not be enough for them to crack the Top 25.
Florida continues to be a puzzle with an offense that has failed to top 70 points seven times.
UP NEXT
The Gators play host to Long Beach State on Dec. 28, their final non-conference game before beginning Southeastern Conference play.
Utah State plays host to Eastern Oregon on Dec. 28.
Long Beach State 68, Utah Valley 65
Long Beach, Calif. • Colin Slater and Michael Carter III scored 15 points apiece and Long Beach State ended a five-game skid with a 68-65 win over Utah Valley.
Slater and Carter hit back-to-back 3s for a 66-62 lead, but Utah Valley closed to 66-65 on TJ Washington’s 3-pointer with 26 seconds. Carter made two free throws with 11 seconds left and Washington’s 3 with 1 second to go rimmed out.
Jordan Roberts scored 10 points and Chance Hunter grabbed nine rebounds for the 49ers (4-9). Joshua Morgan and Drew Cobb had seven boards apiece.
Isaiah White scored 22 points with seven rebounds for Utah Valley (5-9). Brandon Averette added 17 points with five assists and Emmanuel Olojakpoke had seven rebounds.
Washington, who led the Wolverines in scoring heading into the matchup with 14 points per game, scored only five points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Long Beach State takes on Seattle on the road on Monday. Utah Valley takes on Antelope Valley at home next Saturday.
