Williamson returns for ACC quarters

Duke freshman star Zion Williamson returned Thursday night for the Blue Devils’ quarterfinal matchup with Syracuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlotte, N.C.

Williamson got the start after missing nearly six full games with a knee sprain suffered in the opening minute of last month’s loss to rival North Carolina, drawing a huge roar from Duke fans in the Spectrum Center crowd.

The fifth-ranked Blue Devils had been 3-3 with the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson out.

Williamson — The Associated Press’ player and newcomer of the year in the ACC — was averaging 21.6 points and 8.8 rebounds.

Red Raiders fall: Emmitt Mathews scored a careerhigh 28 points as West Virginia upset No. 7 Texas Tech 79-74 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Jarrett Culver scored 26 points for Texas Tech (26-6), which shared the Big 12 regular-season title with Kansas State and was the No. 2 seed.

Matthews hit a corner 3 to give West Virginia (14-19), the No. 10 seed, a 16-point lead with nine minutes to go, but Texas Tech scored 16 of the next 18.

The Red Raiders took a 69-68 lead on a basket by Culver, their first lead since it was 7-5. But the Mountaineers scored seven of the next nine to regain the lead, 75-71.

Huskers score upset:

James Palmer scored 24 points and Nebraska shut down No. 21 Maryland for the first big surprise of the Big Ten Tournament, holding off the fifth-seeded Terrapins for a 69-61 victory in Chicago.

Using a seven-man rotation because of injuries and backup guard Nana Akenten’s suspension, the Cornhuskers harassed the Terrapins into 36 percent (18 for 50) shooting and 11 turnovers. Glynn Watson Jr. added 19 points and Isaiah Roby finished with 15.

Nebraska (17-15), the No. 13 seed, earned a second win in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2016 and will face fourth-seeded Wisconsin on Friday. The Cornhuskers beat Rutgers 68-61 on Wednesday night.

Maryland (22-10) lost for the third time in their last four games.

Bruno Fernando, who entered with averages of 14 points and 10.5 rebounds, was held to three points and eight boards.

Cougars fire Kent: Washington State fired coach Ernie Kent.

The Cougars were 11-21 this season and 58-98 in five seasons under Kent.