Huskies make successful return to tournament

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eight years had gone by since Washington made an NCAA Tournament bracket. The Huskies' award- winning players made their return successful.

Noah Dickerson had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and ninth- seeded Washington pulled away at the end to a 78-61 victory over Utah State on Friday.

The Huskies (27-8) finally got back to the tournament, and they got a win, too.

“It feels really good, actually,” Dickerson said. “When I was a little kid, I used to watch this tournament all the time hoping one day I would have a chance to play in it.”

The Pac-12's regular season champions swept the league's awards — top player, best defensive player and coach of the year — and got something from all of them against one of the hottest teams in March.

Eighth-seeded Utah State ( 28- 7) had won 10 in a row and 17 of 18 while taking the Mountain West title. The Aggies got the highest seed in school history and were trying to end their own long NCAA Tournament drought. They haven't won since 2002, dropping eight in a row — including 2006 against the Huskies.

Corey Davis scored 26 points to help the third-seeded Cougars beat Georgia State. Fabian White had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Breaon Brady added 13 for Houston (32-3), which will face either Iowa State or Ohio State on Sunday.