In a game that will go down in Maryland basketball lore, freshman Derik Queen delivered the biggest shot of his young career, banking in a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to lift the fourth-seeded Terrapins to a 72-71 victory over No. 12 seed Colorado State in the West Region’s second round of the NCAA Tournament. The dramatic win sends Maryland to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
With Maryland trailing 71-70 and just 3.6 seconds remaining, head coach Kevin Willard gave his players a chance to step up and declare their confidence in taking the final shot. Queen didn’t hesitate, emphatically stating he wanted the ball.
That confidence paid off in a moment of pure March Madness magic. Queen received the ball at the top of the key, drove to his left, and elevated over two defenders, lofting a high-arching shot off the glass as the horn sounded. The ball dropped through, sending Maryland’s bench and fans into a frenzy.
The Rams were on the verge of making history, seeking their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1969. With just six seconds left, Colorado State’s Jalen Lake buried a deep, contested three-pointer over Queen to put the underdogs ahead 71-70, momentarily stunning the Terrapins.
It was a familiar scenario for Maryland, which had suffered four losses this season on the final possession. But this time, the Terps had an answer. Queen’s game-winner capped off a second-half comeback after Maryland trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and seven at halftime.
Queen led Maryland (27-8) with 17 points, while Rodney Rice added 16. Julian Reese played a pivotal role inside, finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds, including a key offensive board with 22 seconds left that led to a pair of free throws, briefly putting Maryland ahead 70-68.
The Terps’ starting lineup, known as the “Crab Five,” all reached double figures, while the bench contributed just two points.
For Colorado State (26-10), Nique Clifford had a standout performance with 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Lake finished with 13 points, including the near-game-winning three-pointer. Clifford also made history, surpassing Pat Durham’s single-season scoring record for the program, finishing his season with 681 points.
Maryland’s third-year head coach Kevin Willard reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in seven NCAA Tournament appearances, having previously come up short in five trips with Seton Hall and one with the Terrapins. Before the tournament, Willard had spoken candidly about his frustrations with the program as he pushed for a contract extension. Now, he has his signature moment.
The Terrapins’ journey continues in San Francisco, where they will take on the West Region’s No. 1 seed, Florida. The Gators have been dominant throughout the tournament, but Maryland’s resilience and Queen’s rising star power give them plenty of confidence heading into the Sweet 16.
With Queen’s fearless attitude and a battle-tested team around him, the Terrapins are proving they belong in the national conversation—and they’re not done dancing yet.
