Finally, the Maryland men’s basketball team ended up on the right side of a buzzer-beater. Trailing Colorado State 71-70 with 3.7 seconds remaining, Big Ten Freshman of the Year Derik Queen took an inbound pass, dribbled right, and pulled up to bank a fadeaway off the glass to beat the buzzer, sending Maryland to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
The Seattle crowd at Climate Pledge Arena witnessed the most memorable game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The West’s 12-seed Colorado State gave the 4-seeded Maryland Terrapins everything they could handle.
Stats of the Game
Colorado State opened up with a 22-10 lead in the first half behind an early 16-2 run. However, Queen refused to lose. The Super-freshman scored 10 of Maryland’s first 14 points. Eventually, fellow Maryland big Julian Reese got going. Then Maryland’s guard followed suit.
Yet, the Rams took a 37-30 lead into halftime. Colorado State star guard Nique Clifford scored 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
- Nique Clifford: 21 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast
- Jalen Lake: 13 pts
- Kyan Evans: 10 pts, 4 reb
- Bowen Born: 10 pts, 4 reb
The country’s best starting five got on track and chipped away at the Rams’ lead. All five starters, dubbed the “Crab Five,” scored in double figures.
- Derik Queen: 17 pts, 6 reb
- Julian Reese: 15 pts, 11 reb
- Rodney Rice: 16 pts, 4 reb
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie: 11 pts, 7 ast, 3 reb
- Selton Miguel: 11 pts
Frantic moments down the stretch
Maryland looked to have control of the game, up 68-64 with 1:36 remaining. However, Clifford made a pair of free throws. Then Gillespie missed a floater at the rim that Colorado State translated into a game-tying jumper by Lake with 54 seconds remaining.
Doubt crept into Maryland, whose final four losses have all come with their opponents hitting game-winning shots in under 10 seconds. Reese made a pair of clutch free throws with 22 seconds remaining to give Maryland a 70-68 lead. However, with 11 seconds remaining, the Rams executed a perfect play when Clifford found Lake on the wing for an open three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to give Colorado State a 71–70 lead.
Derik Queen: Give me the Ball!
Queen refused to lose. The potential NBA lottery pick called his shot.
According to Maryland head coach Kevin Willard, Queen said, “Give me the [expletive] ball,” during the Terrapins’ final timeout.
Gillespie inbounded the ball to the freshman, who went to work over, beating Ethan Morton to bank the game-winner.
During the TBS broadcast, Queen was asked why he asked for the basketball despite being a freshman. The Maryland native responded, “I’m from Baltimore.”
Later, Queen admitted he had never made a game-winner at any level. Willard joked he wouldn’t have given Queen the ball if he’d known that.
Maryland stayed in game despite slow start
Maryland’s backcourt withstood a slow start to the game. Clifford was too much to handle in the early going. The Terrapins ultimately got the ball inside to Reese and Queen, using their size advantage.
Maryland’s perimeter offense took time, but its defense was solid outside. The Rams shot 5-of-21 from three-point range. Colorado State’s ability to get 13 offensive rebounds and physical play kept the Rams in the game.
Officials struggled throughout game
The officials’ work was debatable throughout the game. They missed a blatant elbow by Clifford to Maryland guard Jordan Geronimo’s head. Despite Geronimo falling to the floor, officials did not access a foul or review for a potential flagrant 1.
Clifford also got away with a potential offensive foul on a hook in the second half, leading to a dunk and two points. Maryland had some calls go its way, including an argument that Queen may have gotten away with a travel on the game-winner.
The missed calls are debatable and result from such a highly contested game.
What’s next for Maryland
Nonetheless, Maryland is marching on to the Sweet 16 in San Francisco. The Terrapins will play Florida, the West’s No. 1 seed and SEC Tournament champion.
The loss snaps Colorado State’s 11-game win streak. The Rams are left to wonder what could’ve been. Colorado State came one defensive stop short of its first Sweet 16 since 1969.
Maryland had suffered heartache throughout the season. Their last four losses have occurred with a go-ahead basket by an opponent under ten seconds, including a loss at the buzzer to Michigan in the Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinals. On Sunday, it was Maryland’s turn to be on the favorable side of a clutch moment. Derik Queen left Colorado State sleepless in Seattle by calling game.
