March Madness Thrills: No. 4 Maryland’s Derik Queen Delivers Buzzer Beater to Defeat No. 12 Colorado State and Halt Cinderella Dreams!

Maryland’s basketball team made headlines with an incredible finish, advancing to the Sweet 16 after a nail-biting victory against Colorado State. With just seconds left, Derik Queen hit a buzzer-beater, sealing a 72-71 win in a game full of thrilling twists.

The game saw Colorado State leading for most of the time. They went up 9-8 early on and held onto that edge until Maryland took back the lead at 49-47 midway through the second half. Both teams exchanged blows, each fighting hard for a shot at the next round.

As the clock wound down, Maryland looked to be in control after a quick 9-0 run, leading 68-64 with under two minutes left. But Colorado State wasn’t done yet; they fought back, tying the game at 68-68 with a jumper from Jalen Lake. Maryland regained the lead at 70-68 thanks to Julian Reese’s free throws, but Colorado State quickly answered back with a three-pointer from Lake, putting them up 71-70 with just 6.1 seconds to go.

It all came down to Maryland’s final possession. After a timeout, Queen stepped up and delivered the game-winner with just 3.7 seconds on the clock, sending the team and fans into a frenzy.

After the game, Maryland’s head coach Kevin Willard shared how eagerly they awaited this moment. “We were due,” he said about finally catching a break in tight games, hinting at how they had lost several matches in the past few weeks in similar dramatic fashion.

Queen’s shot was more than just a win—it marked a significant moment in his budding basketball career. As a standout freshman, he averaged 16.2 points and 9.2 rebounds this season, earning both Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honors. In a heartwarming postgame moment, he expressed pride in representing Baltimore, saying, “A lot of people don’t really make it out of Baltimore. I just wanted to come here and make a change.”

His journey is even more significant given the city’s basketball history and the challenges many young athletes face. According to recent data, youth sports participation has seen fluctuations due to the pandemic, but stories like Queen’s inspire many in Baltimore to pursue their dreams.

Queen’s story resonates not just because of the game-winning shot but also as a beacon of hope for young players from similar backgrounds, reminding them that their dreams are attainable.

For Queen and Maryland basketball, this win is just the beginning of what many hope will be a deep tournament run, filled with more unforgettable moments.



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