Maryland’s Derik Queen Delivers Last-Second Magic to Propel Terps into Sweet 16
SEATTLE — March Madness shines in moments like this. Maryland’s star, Derik Queen, made a buzzer-beater that won the game. The ball hit the glass and dropped in. Maryland won 72–71 over the Colorado State Rams on Sunday. This win gave Maryland its first game-winning shot of the NCAA Tournament and moved the Terps into the Sweet 16 for the first time in nearly ten years.
Queen drove left when fewer than four seconds remained. He released a running fadeaway shot. The ball clanged off the glass and fell into the net as the clock reached zero. The shot broke a tense, back-and-forth battle. Earlier, Colorado State took the lead with a three-pointer from Jalen Lake.
Maryland now makes its fifteenth Sweet 16 appearance in school history. The school had not reached this stage since 2016. “I mean, I couldn’t do it without my team,” Queen said after the game. He thanked his teammates for their support. “We were down and wanted to fight for the seniors. My coaches and my teammates trusted me to take that last shot.”
The win sparked debate about Queen’s final shot. Some fans questioned whether he had traveled before releasing the ball. However, Colorado State’s coach, Niko Medved, stayed calm. When asked if the shot was a travel, he said, “Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. It doesn’t matter; they didn’t call one.” His words accepted that the call was final.
Queen led the Terps with 17 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots. Rodney Rice scored 16 points. Ju Reese added 15 points and collected 11 rebounds. Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 11 points and delivered seven assists. Selton Miguel chipped in 11 points as well.
The match raised the excitement of the NCAA Tournament. Queen’s buzzer-beater became a defining moment. The Terps now prepare for their next battle. They have shown strong resolve and a knack for late-game heroics. Their hope is that this magic carries them closer to a national title.
For further updates on the NCAA Tournament and of college basketball, stay tuned.
