March Madness has been full of excitement, but there’s one moment that has truly stolen the spotlight—and it came just when it seemed like the tournament had lost its spark.
In a thrilling Round of 32 match, Maryland pulled off a stunning last-second win over Colorado State, with freshman Derik Queen delivering the first buzzer-beater of the NCAA Tournament.
A Tense Battle in Seattle
The game was a back-and-forth affair that had fans on the edge of their seats in Seattle.
Colorado State, the 12-seed in the West Region, had managed to claw their way into a lead with just six seconds remaining.
Jalen Lake, the Colorado State guard, nailed a three-point jumper, putting his team ahead and leaving Maryland with only a few moments to make something happen.
As the clock ticked down, Maryland called a timeout with just three seconds left, setting the stage for a final play.
That’s when the ball found its way to Derik Queen, the standout freshman from Baltimore who had been dominant throughout the game.
Derik Queen’s Moment of Glory
With the game on the line, Queen drove hard toward the basket, and in the final moments, he took a shot that would make history.
The ball swished through the net, and the crowd erupted as the Maryland Terrapins secured a 72-71 victory.
It was a breathtaking finish, sending Maryland to their first Sweet 16 appearance in nine years.
Queen’s confidence was evident throughout, and after the game, Maryland’s head coach Kevin Willard shared how sure Queen was that he could make the shot.
“I asked everybody, ‘Who wants the ball?'” Willard said. “Queen said, ‘Give me the MF ball.’ I said, ‘Alright, you’re getting it.'”
Queen’s Confidence and the Team’s Trust
Derik Queen, one of the top freshmen in the country, wasn’t shy about his belief in himself. “I’m from Baltimore, that’s why,” Queen said.
“I had it going, me and my teammates had it going, and they trusted me to take that last shot.”
His poise in the clutch moment reflected the trust that the team has in him—and it paid off.
Maryland Moves Forward to Face Florida
Now, the Terrapins are heading to the Sweet 16, where they will face the number-one seed, Florida, in San Francisco.
Maryland’s thrilling victory marks a high point for the team as they look to continue their March Madness run.
It’s been a journey full of ups and downs, but with Derik Queen’s clutch performance, Maryland is now one step closer to the ultimate prize.