It’s not a fact that March Madness has had eyes glued to the screen and last night was an example of this. Cue the Colorado State Rams and the Maryland Terps: a grueling 2nd Round battle of epic proportions. Despite their 1st Rounds wins, both teams had a lot to prove; The No. 12 seeded Rams were deemed a popular upset pick for the tourney in strength of their multiple facilitators on offense. The Terps, however, have been on the wrong end of many buzzer-beaters this season and had a hard time securing final possession.
It all culminated in the final 10 seconds of the game when Colorado State’s Jalen Laken hit a 3-pointer that gave the team a 71-70 lead. However, that celebration would be short-lived eventually when the 6”10 freshman, Derik Queen, completed a banked fadeaway jumper at the buzzer—silencing the entire crowd at the Climate Pledge Arena, Colorado State’s chances at a Sweet 16 return as moot.
The Baltimore native Derik Queen said he was nervous but thanks to the trust of his teammates, was able to get the job done. That confidence was displayed in his upbeat, focused drive to a well-deserving win at the basket. Queen led the team with 17 points, six boards, and 2 blocks proving his value to the team. The No.4 seeded Maryland is now in the Sweet 16, where they will face the No.1 seeded Florida Gators.
If anything, this effort from the Maryland Terrapin shows a positive spirit for the rest of the NCAA tournament. Despite their lack of offensive willpower, this mental edge will be a big part of their battle against the Florida Gators. Tune in for that game on TBS Thursday, March 27th at 7:39 PM ET
