Miami @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2016 ) Miami-Florida 56, Florida 65

Miami remained perfect at the Charleston Classic on Thursday, defeating Missouri State 74-70 in first-round action at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. With the victory, the Hurricanes, the only two-time Charleston Classic champion, ran their record to 8-0 in three trips to the tournament and they will take on state rival Florida on Friday after the Gators hung on to take down Saint Joseph's 70-62 in their opener.

Late free throws proved to be the story for both schools Thursday as they watched big second-half leads disappear, turning what seemed like easy victories into ones that were in doubt in the final minute. The Gators desperately needed the win to somewhat redeem themselves after getting bounced from the top 25 this week and they appeared primed to do just that after running out to a 41-25 halftime lead before Saint Joseph's battled back to close within two late and clutch free-throw shooting by Florida proved to be the difference. "Down the stretch, I thought we showed tremendous toughness," said head coach Mike White, whose Gators had to play most of the game without star forward Kerry Blackshear after he ran into foul trouble early and then was ejected in the second half for throwing an elbow. Senior guard Dejan Vasiljevic came up big for the Hurricanes, scoring a career- and game-high 25 points, with his last two coming on foul shots with 1.2 seconds left to seal Miami's fourth straight win.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2.

ABOUT MIAMI (4-1): Vasiljevic hit on 9-of-13 shots, including 4-of-7 from long distance, and he was one of three Hurricanes in double figures as Oklahoma transfer Kameron McGusty totaled 19 and junior guard Chris Lykes scored 11. "(Vasiljevic) is one of the best shooters I have ever coached," Miami head coach Jim Larranaga told reporters afterward. "I am more surprised if he ever misses. He is someone that, when he releases, you think it is going in. That is when he is shooting a three, a two or a free throw. He is just an outstanding shooter." Redshirt junior center Rodney Miller Jr. led Miami with eight boards, but the team was outrebounded 45-25, with Missouri State accumulating 20 on the offensive boards.

ABOUT FLORIDA (3-2): Scoring has been a huge problem for the Gators this season but they hit 47.1 percent of their shots in the first half despite missing Blackshear for all but three minutes. Keyontae Johnson stepped up with a career-best 22 points while equaling his personal high with 12 rebounds to lead the Gators, who hit just 38 percent of their shots in the second half, going 0-for-4 from deep. Blackshear, who came into the tournament averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds per game, wound up scoring just one point and had two rebounds in five minutes of play, although he will return for the Miami game.

TIP-INS

1. Florida has won five of the last eight meetings between the schools, including a 65-56 victory when the teams last played in November 2016.

2. Former Gators F Keith Stone came to Miami this season as a graduate transfer, but he hasn't suited up yet as he's still recovering from a knee injury.

3. Miami hit 40.9 percent of its 3-point shots against Missouri State, but the Gators limited Saint Joseph's to 13 percent from deep.

PREDICTION: Florida 69, Miami 66