Maryland Wins 72-71: Queen’s Buzzer-Beater Stuns Colorado State

Derik Queen’s Buzzer-Beater Sends Maryland to Sweet 16 in Thrilling Upset

In a dramatic finish to their NCAA tournament matchup, the 4th-seeded Maryland Terrapins stunned No. 12 Colorado State with a 72-71 victory, courtesy of a buzzer-beating floater from freshman sensation Derik Queen. With just 3.7 seconds on the clock, Queen received the inbounds pass, drove towards the baseline, and launched a decisive floater over Colorado State’s Ethan Morton. The ball bounced off the backboard and fell through the net as time expired, sending Maryland’s bench into a frenzy and crushing Colorado State’s tournament dreams.

Heartbreak for Colorado State as Maryland Stages Late Comeback

The game was a seesaw battle, with Colorado State holding the lead for a significant portion. They established an early 9-8 advantage and maintained it until Maryland finally took a 49-47 lead with 13:39 remaining. The tension escalated as the game progressed, with both teams trading blows in a bid to advance to the Sweet 16. Maryland seemed to have the upper hand with a 68-64 lead with under two minutes left, following a crucial 9-0 run. However, Colorado State fought back, tying the game at 68-68 with a Jalen Lake jumper. Julian Reese then put Maryland up 70-68 with two free throws, only for Lake to drain a clutch three-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining, giving Colorado State a 71-70 lead. But Maryland’s final timeout set up Queen’s game-winning heroics, leaving Colorado State with a devastating end to their tournament run.

Queen’s Heroics and Maryland’s Tenacity Seal the Deal

Maryland’s head coach, Kevin Willard, expressed relief after the game, stating that his team was “due” for a buzzer-beater after several close losses during the season. He praised Colorado State’s effort but ultimately celebrated Queen’s clutch performance. Queen, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-Big Ten selection, delivered a career-defining moment, marking his first-ever game-winning shot. He finished the game with 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, leading five Maryland players who scored in double figures. ¹ Maryland’s success from beyond the arc, shooting 10 of 24 from three-point range, proved to be a critical factor in their victory. Despite Colorado State’s Nique Clifford’s impressive 21-point performance, their season came to an end. Maryland’s victory sets up a Sweet 16 clash with No. 1 seed Florida.