Mens basketball Florida vs. Merrimack

Merrimack College Jaylen Stinson (1) recovers the ball during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Merrimack College Jaylen Stinson (1) runs into Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (2) gets grabbed by Merrimack College Jacob O'Connell (20) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (2) gets grabbed by Merrimack College Jacob O'Connell (20) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Will Richard (5) steals the ball from Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Tyrese Samuel (4) pressures Merrimack College Adam “Budd” Clark (0) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Will Richard (5) steals the ball from Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Merrimack College Jacob O'Connell (20) gets blocked by Florida Gators forward Alex Condon (21) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Julian Rishwain (23) guards Merrimack College Jordan McKoy (24) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators assistant coach Kevin Hovde yells at player during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators assistant coach Kevin Hovde yells at player during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) drives against Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (2) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) steals the ball from Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (2) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Will Richard (5) drops the ball in during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) shoots under pressure from Merrimack College Bryan Etumnu (11) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (2) and Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) scramble for the ball during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel (2) and Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) scramble for the ball during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden yells during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators assistant coach Kevin Hovde reacts during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Tyrese Samuel (4) drives against Merrimack College Bryan Etumnu (11) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Tyrese Samuel (4) shoots during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) shoots during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Zyon Pullin (0) drives against Merrimack College Adam “Budd” Clark (0) and Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Tyrese Samuel (4) scrambles for the ball during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Tyrese Samuel (4) scrambles for the ball during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Julian Rishwain (23) looks to pass as Merrimack College Samba Diallo (2) jumps by during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Zyon Pullin, right, tries to get by Merrimack College Jordan Derkack (4) during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Alex Condon (21) and Merrimack College Jordan McKoy (24) battle for the rebound during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators assistant coach Kevin Hovde yells at players during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) drives through Merrimack College Jaylen Stinson (1) during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) drives through Merrimack College Jordan McKoy (24) and Merrimack College Jaylen Stinson (1) during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators assistant coach Kevin Hovde yells at players during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) drives against Merrimack College Jordan McKoy (24) for the shot during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) drives through Merrimack College Jordan McKoy (24) for the shot during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

The Florida Gators Dazzlers entertain during a time out during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators assistant coach Kevin Hovde keeps and eye on the action during first half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Merrimack College head coach Joe Gallo reacts during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Merrimack College head coach Joe Gallo reacts during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Alberta and the Grinch keep an eye on the action during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

during second half action of an NCAA basketball game as Florida Gators take on Merrimack College Warrors at Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]