Social Media Erupts After Utah State Takes Down No. 5 San Diego State

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Social media exploded with posts after Utah State guard Sam Merrill hit a deep three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left to beat the No. 5 ranked San Diego State Aztecs.

Merrill and the Aggies defeated the Aztecs 59-56 in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Saturday, March 7.

The game-winning bucket made Utah State back-to-back Mountain West Conference championships and earned the Aggies a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s how social media reacted to Merrill’s massive triple:

CBS Sports tweeted a video of Merrill’s shot with the caption, “SAM MERRILL, ONIONS.”

SAM MERRILL, ONIONS pic.twitter.com/PrXYv0DQVu

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 8, 2020

Utah State Basketball’s official Twitter account posted a photo of a broken Aztecs spear and said “We DANCIN’ BABY!!! Back-To-Back.”

We DANCIN’ BABY!!!

Back-To-Back#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/gbs8b5qm2T

— Utah State Athletics (@USUAthletics) March 8, 2020

The NCAA’s Twitter account highlighted the Aggies as the first college basketball team to secure a spot in the NCAA tourney.

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS!

Utah State defeats San Diego State 59-56 in the @MountainWest Championship to secure the first AQ bid! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/5TC4oz8qV2

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 8, 2020

Stadium’s Jeff Goodman said that “NO ONE wants to draw Sam Merrill, Neemias Queta and the Aggies in the first round of the NCAA tourney.”

Utah State gets the first automatic berth, and NO ONE wants to draw Sam Merrill, Neemias Queta and the Aggies in the first round of the NCAA tourney.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 8, 2020

ESPN’s Jordan Schultz offered similar sentiments to Goodman saying Utah State “will be one of the most dangerous” teams in the NCAA tourney.

Sam Merrill and Utah State will be one of the most dangerous double-digit teams in the field. Offense kills in March.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 8, 2020

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein posted “Things you never thought you’d tweet: Utah State has won back-to-back Mountain West Conference Tournament.”

Things you never thought you'd tweet:

Utah State has won back-to-back Mountain West Conference Tournaments.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2020

ESPN NBA Draft analyst Mike Schmitz tweeted that Merrill “made himself a lot of money” during the Mountain West Conference tournament.

Sam Merrill made himself a lot of money these last few days. What a performance.

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) March 8, 2020

Radio host Chris Winn posted a video of Merrill’s shot and the crowd reaction at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Why not? Utah State Star Sam Merrill buries a monster three w/ 3 secs left! Aggies up 3 now one last chance for San Diego State. #MWC2020 #MWMadness ⁦@TheVegasTake⁩ ⁦@KDWNLasVegas⁩ pic.twitter.com/uURmvTWPSI

— Chris Winn (@ChristianWinn) March 8, 2020

Merrill’s performance throughout the MWC tourney earned him MVP honors.

TOURNAMENT MVP.

SAM. MERRILL. @USUBasketball | #AggiesAllTheWay | #MWMadness pic.twitter.com/vPk9ImNpC3

— Mountain West (@MountainWest) March 8, 2020

Utah lieutenant governor Spencer Cox tweeted “I’ve lost how many big shots that guy (Merrill) has hit” in the Mountain West tournament. Cox added that Merrill “is special.”

Seriously, I’ve lost track of how many big shots that guy has hit *just* in this tournament. Kid is special. Proud day for my Aggies. @usuHURD @USUBasketball https://t.co/CKY5wsF1Wj

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) March 8, 2020