A Freshman's Big Shot Keeps Maryland's Tournament Dreams Alive

Basketball fans witnessed a thrilling finish as Maryland secured a spot in the Sweet 16. The Terrapins faced off against Colorado State in a nail-biting game that came down to the final seconds. The game was a rollercoaster. Colorado State led for much of the contest, but Maryland fought back. With just 3. 7 seconds left, Derik Queen, a freshman center, received the ball on an inbounds pass. He drove to the basket and launched a floater over the outstretched arms of Colorado State's Nikola Djapa. The ball bounced off the rim and into the net as the buzzer sounded. Maryland's players rushed to Queen, celebrating the dramatic win. Colorado State's dreams of a Cinderella run were dashed in heartbreaking fashion. The game was a battle from start to finish. Colorado State took an early lead and held it for much of the first half. Maryland finally took the lead with about 13 minutes remaining in the second half. The teams traded the lead several times in the final minutes. With just over a minute left, Maryland had a 68-64 lead. But Colorado State's Jalen Lake hit a jumper to tie the game at 68-68. Maryland's Julian Reese then hit two free throws to give Maryland a 70-68 lead. After a Colorado State timeout, Lake hit a three-pointer with 6. 1 seconds left to give Colorado State a 71-70 lead. Maryland called a timeout to set up the final play, and Queen delivered the game-winning shot.

Queen's performance was a highlight of his stellar season. He led Maryland to a second-place finish in the Big Ten and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. On Sunday, he scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked two shots. Queen's shot was his first game-winner in his basketball career. He said he was proud to represent Baltimore and hoped his success would inspire other local kids. Queen's coach, Kevin Willard, praised his player's clutch performance. "I asked everybody, 'Who wants the ball? '" Willard said. "He said 'Give me the ball. ' And I said, 'All right, you're getting it. '" Maryland's victory was not just about Queen's shot. The Terrapins outshot Colorado State from three-point range, hitting 10 of 24 attempts compared to Colorado State's 5 of 21. Maryland's five starters all scored in double figures, showing a balanced attack. Despite being outrebounded and outshot overall, Maryland's hot shooting from long distance was the difference maker. Colorado State's Nique Clifford led his team with 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, but it was not enough to overcome Maryland's late-game heroics. Maryland's win was a testament to their resilience. The Terrapins had lost multiple games this season on buzzer beaters. Willard acknowledged the team's struggles but praised their perseverance. "We were due for a win like this, " Willard said. "Our last four losses have all been buzzer beaters. When Lake shot that shot, I was like, man, that's going in. I'm like, we were due to get one. " Maryland's victory was a reminder that in basketball, as in life, sometimes you just need a little luck and a lot of heart.

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