The first buzzer-beater of March Madness has happened, and it will send Maryland to the Sweet 16.
The No. 4 Terrapins were in a tough battle with No. 12 Colorado State and the Rams’ Jalen Lake hit a clutch go-ahead 3-pointer with six seconds left to give his team a 71-70 lead. Maryland brought the ball up and called a timeout with three seconds left.
On the final play, Derik Queen drove into the lane and did a running jumper as he shot the ball off the glass and it went in. The buzzer went off to cap the stunning 72-71 victory and avoid the upset from Colorado State.
Queen has been a leader for the Terps and he certainly carried his team back from a 12-point first half deficit. He had a team-high 17 points, and the last two were the ones that pushed Maryland to survive and advance.
Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said in the timeout huddle prior to the game-winner, he asked his team who wants the ball. Queen was the first to respond and said ‘I want the (expletive) ball.’ After that, Willard said it was a simple decision to get the ball to Queen.
‘That was my first, that was my first game-winner,’ Queen said. ‘When coach drew up the play, my teammates trusted me. He trusted me. I was a little bit nervous, but I knew I was due for one, and I had to make this.’
Maryland now heads to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. The Terrapins will play No. 1 Florida.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
