Williams boosts Stanford; sets up showdown with Tar Heels

Dec 1, 2021, 05:12 am

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- — Highly touted freshman Ziaire Williams scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his collegiate debut and Stanford beat Alabama 82-64 in the relocated Maui Invitational on Monday.

Stanford will face 14th-ranked North Carolina (2-0) on Tuesday. The tournament is being played in North Carolina instead of Hawaii due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The game served as Stanford's season opener because its first scheduled game against Utah Valley was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols.

Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward, is a McDonald's All-American, a 5-star recruit and viewed as Stanford's highest-rated prospect in program history. Current 2021 NBA draft boards project him as high as a top-5 lottery pick should he decide to leave after his freshman season.

Bryce Wills scored 15 points for Stanford and Oscar da Silva and Daejon Davis each scored 13.

Jahvon Quinerly lead the Crimson Tide (1-1) with 14 points and Jaden Shackelford scored 10.

Williams' jumper with 7:42 before halftime broke a 25-all tie and the Cardinal closed the half on a 16-4 run and it was largely in control the rest of the way.

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