Blackshear can’t do it all in loss

Registers season highs with 22 points, 14 boards

SUNRISE – Sam Merrill’s fifth 3-pointer of the game put just enough distance between Utah State and Florida for the Aggies to put the game out of reach.

With just under two minutes to go, Merrill connected from deep and put Utah State ahead six points. The remainder of the game was drawn out with the Gators fouling and the Aggies doing their due diligence at the line. But playing the free-throw game could not close the gap that Merrill’s shooting created — and UF’s poor shooting contributed to — as Utah State defeated Florida 65-62 in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at the BB&T Center behind Merrill’s team-high 21 points.

“He’s a great facilitator, obviously he can score and he got cooking there, throughout the whole game, and especially the second half, he made some great plays for us,” Utah State head coach Craig Smith said of Merrill.

The Gators (7-4) were buoyed by Kerry Blackshear Jr.’s best game in orange and blue, but he didn’t get much help. Blackshear Jr. totaled 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds — both season highs — and did the bulk of his work at the free-throw line, going 15 for 17 there.

Like the rest of his team, he shot poorly from the field. Blackshear Jr. went just 3 of 14 on the day and the Gators shot 32% overall.

The Aggies (12-2), however, shot 45% from the field and provided plenty of help for their star player. Besides Merrill, who earned MVP honors, grabbing nine rebounds and totaling five assists, Justin Bean chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds and Diogo Brito added 11 points.

“I thought both teams had a chance to win I thought they just made the plays down the stretch, it’s that simple,” UF coach Mike White said. “I mean, sometimes the game comes down to making or missing shots and they certainly made timely shots.”

Scottie Lewis was the only Gators player besides Blackshear Jr. to score in double figures, finishing with 11. Keyontae Johnson, Florida’s leading scorer this season, finished with just six points, four of which came in the final minute of the game.

Aggies center Neemias Queta was injured in the first half and did not return to the game, which allowed UF to continue going to Blackshear Jr. in the paint and win the rebounding battle, but it did not prove to be a fatal loss for Utah State.

Utah State’s superior ball movement was evident by its strong outside shooting and 19 assists on 24 made field goals. Conversely, UF had just eight assists.

“At the end of the day when you hold an SEC team and a team like Florida to 20 for 62 from the field and 4 for 17 from the three, you’re doing great things,” Smith said.

The loss for the Gators drops them to 17-4 all-time in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic while the Aggies won their second straight game.