sports 14 | EXPRESS | 03.15.2019 | WEEKEND
REDSKINS HERO
Collins awed by joining Taylor’s team
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Huskers stun Terps
NEBRASKA 69, MARYLAND 61 For the third straight season, Maryland’s trip to the Big Ten Tournament ended early, this time in a second-round loss to 13th-seeded Nebraska at United Center in Chicago. The fifth-seeded Terrapins (22-10) looked lifeless in the first half and offered a brief flurry to start the second, but the Cornhuskers kept finding a counter to extend the Terrapins’ recent run of tournament misery. Maryland hasn’t won a postseason game since 2016. Maryland trimmed Nebraska’s lead to eight with just under four minutes to go and then to six with two minutes left. But James Palmer Jr., who had a game-high 24 points, then hit a 3-pointer, and No. 21 Maryland never climbed any closer.
Nebraska (18-15) beat the Terrapins despite using a seven-man rotation because of injuries and backup guard Nana Akenten’s suspension. The Cornhuskers harassed the Terrapins into 36 percent shooting (18 for 50) and 11 turnovers. Sophomore big man Bruno Fernando, usually a dominant force in Maryland’s offense, scored a season-low three points on 1-for-4 shooting. Junior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. led the Terps with 18 points, but the team’s offense was dormant for much of the game. Maryland is 2-5 in the Big Ten Tournament since joining the conference for the 2014-15 season. Coach Mark Turgeon’s postseason record at Maryland dropped to 8-11. With about eight minutes
NAM Y. HUH (AP)
Cold-shooting Maryland loses to 13th seed, extending run of postseason frustration
Nebraska’s Isaiah Roby frustrates — and fouls — Anthony Cowan Jr.
remaining, Turgeon received a technical foul after arguing a no-call when Terps guard Darryl Morsell missed a layup in transition. Glynn Watson Jr. hit both free throws and then Maryland fouled to make Isaiah Roby’s layup a three-point play. Suddenly, the Terrapins’ nine-point deficit
swelled to 14. Nebraska earned a second victory in the Big Ten tourney for the first time since 2016 and will face fourth-seeded Wisconsin on Friday afternoon. The Cornhuskers had advanced to the second round with a 68-61 victory against Rutgers on Wednesday night. (THE WASHINGTON POST/AP)
As a child in the suburbs of New Orleans, Landon Collins idolized Redskins safety Sean Taylor. Collins wore No. 21 because it was Taylor’s number, dreamed of going to the University of Miami because it was Taylor’s college, and hoped that someday he too could play for the Redskins. When Collins, 25, accepted an $84 million, six-year deal this week to play safety for Washington, “I literally broke down,” he said Thursday at Redskins headquarters. “I still haven’t taken it all in.” The ex-New York Giant said he also cried this week when Redskins owner Daniel Snyder gave him a signed jersey worn by Taylor, who was 24 when he was murdered by robbers in 2007. (THE WASHINGTON POST)
VIRGINIA 76, N.C. STATE 56
FLORIDA STATE 65, VA. TECH 63 (OT)
Offensive outburst by Salt gives Cavs a surprising lift
Hokies ousted in overtime as off-balance shot rattles in
Senior center Jack Salt, left, is known for defense and hadn’t scored in six straight games, in part because of back discomfort. But he had a career-high 18 points Thursday to help Virginia beat N.C. State (22-11) in an ACC Tournament quarterfinal in Charlotte. Virginia (29-2), the nation’s No. 2 team and the tournament’s top seed, won its ninth in a row and advanced to a semifinal against FSU on Friday at 7 p.m. (ESPN). (TWP)
Senior guard Terance Mann hit an offbalance runner with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to help No. 12 FSU beat No. 16 Virginia Tech on Thursday in an ACC Tournament quarterfinal in Charlotte. Mann’s shot from the right side rattled around the rim before dropping through for FSU (26-6). The Hokies (24-8) had a final chance, but guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, left, missed a long 3-pointer at the horn. (AP)
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AP
ACC TOURNAMENT
Atlantic 10: George Mason defeats George Washington 61-57; VCU faces Rhode Island on Friday (noon, NBCSN)
Former Redskins safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signs with Bears