In a March Madness that lacked the usual upsets and buzzer-beaters, the excitement finally arrived – and it came with a bang.
Maryland, the four-seed in the West Region, found themselves in a nail-biting battle against 12-seed Colorado State in their Round of 32 matchup, a game that seemed to be slipping away from them.
A Tense Final Moments in Seattle
The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with both teams showing their grit.
With just six seconds left on the clock, Colorado State’s Jalen Lake made a clutch three-pointer, giving them a one-point lead and putting Maryland’s chances at risk.
The Terrapins quickly advanced the ball, called a timeout, and had three seconds left to orchestrate a final play.
Derik Queen Steps Up in the Clutch
The inbounds pass went to freshman sensation Derik Queen, who was calm under pressure.
The talented Baltimore native drove to the basket and released a shot in the final moments.
The ball sailed through the rim as time expired, giving Maryland a dramatic 72-71 victory.
It was the first buzzer-beater of this year’s NCAA Tournament, and it secured Maryland’s first trip to the Sweet 16 in nine years.
Queen’s Confidence Shines Through
After the game, Maryland head coach Kevin Willard praised Queen’s confidence, revealing that when he asked his players who wanted the ball for the final shot, Queen confidently responded, “Give me the MF ball.”
Willard, impressed by Queen’s self-assuredness, handed him the ball, and the rest is history.
A Proud Moment for Maryland and Queen
Queen, one of the top freshmen in the country, reflected on his game-winning shot after the buzzer. “I’m from Baltimore, that’s why,” he said with a grin.
“I kinda had it going, me and my teammates had it going, and like I said, they trusted me to take that last shot.”
Maryland Moves On to the Sweet 16
With the win, Maryland advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
They’ll now face top-seeded Florida in San Francisco, where they’ll look to continue their impressive March Madness run.