GATORS BASKETBALL

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. Utah State won despite losing hard-luck center Neemias Queta to an injury in the first half. The Gators missed their first 14 shots, and missed seven in a row in the final minutes after taking a 55-54 lead. 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.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Tipoff times have been set for the doubleheader at this year's Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Florida State and Florida will return to the BB&T Center in Sunrise for the Dec. 21 games. It will be the 11th time since 1999 that the Seminoles, 8-2 all-time in Sunrise, will participate in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Florida is making its 11th consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 21st overall. Both teams were victorious last December, with the Gators beating Florida Gulf Coast 77-56 and the Seminoles defeating St. Louis 81-59.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Fans of the Gators and Seminoles won't have to travel far from home to see their teams on the hardwood this year. Florida and Florida State will return to Sunrise in December for the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the schools announced Wednesday. Florida is making its 11th consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 21st overall. Florida State's game against USF will be the eighth consecutive appearance and 11th time since 1999 that the Seminoles will appear in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Both teams were victorious last December, with the Gators beating Florida Gulf Coast 77-56 and the Seminoles defeating St. Louis 81-59.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Keith Stone is coming home. The former Florida forward announced Monday on Twitter that he is transferring to Miami for his senior season. "I'm coming home momma," Stone tweeted, along with a picture of him wearing a Miami uniform. Florida head coach Mike White announced last month that Stone was planning to graduate and transfer to another school for his final season of eligibility. "We are excited to welcome Keith to the Hurricane family," Miami head coach Jim Larranaga said in a statement Tuesday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Florida and Miami will participate in the Charleston Classic next season, the schools announced Thursday. Joining the Gators and Hurricanes will be Connecticut, Missouri State, Penn State, Saint Joseph's, Towson and Xavier. The Hurricanes won the 2014 tournament the last time they traveled to Charleston. Previous tournament winners include Temple last year, Villanova in 2016 and Virginia in 2015. Fans can save up to $25 on discounted tickets by signing up on the tournament's website between now and Nov. 25.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida and Florida State will once again participate in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic this season. The Orange Bowl Committee announced Tuesday that the Gators and the Seminoles will return to the BB&T Center in Sunrise for a basketball doubleheader Dec. 22. Florida Gulf Coast will face Florida in a rematch of a 2013 NCAA tournament game that the Gators won 62-50. The Gators will make their 10th consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 20th overall, including a 71-69 loss to Clemson last year. Florida State, which advanced to the "Elite Eight" last season, is making its seventh consecutive appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and 10th overall.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Canyon Barry scored 14 points, his best game since injuring an ankle two weeks ago, and No. 12 Florida handled Arkansas 78-65 on Wednesday night. Kasey Hill, KeVaughn Allen and Chris Chiozza added 12 points apiece for the Gators, who bounced back from their first loss in 10 games and clinched the No. Arkansas (22-8, 11-6) made it close midway through the second half, cutting the lead to 51-45 on Trey Thompson's straightaway jumper. But the Gators responded with clutch shot after clutch shot to make it a 14-point game again.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Longtime University of Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley, one of the most successful college sports leaders in the country, is retiring. Foley, 63, informed his staff and head coaches of the move Monday, calling it quits after 40 years at Florida. He will remain at Florida as emeritus athletic director for the duration of his current contract. Florida President Dr. Kent Fuchs thanked Foley for his years of service and commitment to the Gators. "I firmly believe my time as athletics director is ending so that I can move into the next phase of my life, and I eagerly look forward to this next phase," Foley said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –Dorian Finney-Smith had 15 points, nine rebounds and four steals, and the Florida Gators built a 22-point halftime lead to cruise past North Florida 97-68 on Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament. John Egbunu capped Florida's big first half with his 68th dunk of the season to set a program single-season record. Florida made 12 of 19 3-pointers in the first half to help build a 57-25 lead against the Ospreys. Finney-Smith, KeVaughn Allen and Kasey Hill each scored 12 in the half and the trio combined for 8 of 13 from 3-point range. North Florida, the nation's top 3-point shooting team with 402 made entering the game, was just 4 of 15 in the first half.