On a typical overcast and misty day in Seattle, four teams played for the opportunity to advance to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The senior-laden Maryland Terrapins outlasted the lone double-digit seed Colorado State Rams left in this bracket, 72-71. In the nightcap, two familiar foes faced off at Climate Pledge Arena, when the Arizona Wildcats blew past the Oregon Ducks to move onto the Sweet 16.
The Terrapins stormed in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by recording a 32-point win over Grand Canyon, which is now the largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game, proving they have found their footing after their tough loss to Michigan a week prior. Coming off their upset of Memphis in the first round, Colorado State’s Jalen Lake did all he could to help the Rams get to their second Sweet 16 appearance since 1969, by knocking down his team-leading third three-pointer with under .06 seconds on the game clock giving the Rams a 71-70 lead.The
Terrapin’s ominous streak of losing their past four games which were decided in the final minutes of the game, ended on Sunday night in Seattle, WA. As true freshman center, Derik Queen announced his presence, and let it be known he wanted the ball, down by one, with 3.12 seconds remaining on the game clock.
“I asked the guys, “Who wanted the ball,” Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said about his discussion with the team down by one, with seconds on the clock. “Queen said give me the M—F ball.”
Trusting the most emphatic player, Willard called a play for the jovial Queen. The freshman took the ball at the top of the key, drove it to the left side of the paint, and put a soft shot off the top of the glass that banked in for the go-ahead bucket. Queen becomes only the fourth freshman to sink a game-winning shot in the NCAA Tournament.
“I was getting the shivers. I was like I got to make this shot, (because) I can’t let the seniors down. I can’t let my coaches down, I can’t let Maryland down,” Queen said as he thought back to when heard the coach call the final play for him. “I was just hoping that he overplayed it and cheated the play. So I could get past him. That’s something I work on a lot; earlier in the game, I did the same thing, but they called traveling.”
“Well, we’re up one right, so obviously you can’t just play three-point field goal defense, you got to play defense,” said Colorado State Rams head coach Niko Medved. “It’s a heck of a shot. I don’t really know what else you do to defend that. Hindsight’s 20/20; I had no beef on how we defended that play… He just made a great shot.”
Queen led the Terrapins with 17 points in the game, though all five starters finished the game in double digits. Mountain West Tournament MVP Nique Clifford led all scorers with 21 points, pulled down seven rebounds and handed out six assists. Maryland needed that final shot from Queen to win, as Colorado State beat them on the boards (39-29), assists (15-11), and bench points (18-2).
The 4 Maryland Terrapins (27-8) will now face 1 Florida Gators (32-4) at the Chase Center in the next round of the NCAA Tournament. The Florida Gators are coming off beating 16 Norfolk State and 8 University of Connecticut, en route to an eight-game win streak.
Oregon’s sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad led the way for the Ducks scoring 25 points on 9-15 shooting from the field. However, they could not maintain their early 14-point lead. Once Wildcats junior guard Jaden Bradley knocked down his jumper to break a 35-35 tie, with 2:40 remaining in the first half, the Wildcats would not relinquish the lead to their former PAC 12 foe.
Wildcats’ senior, First Team All-Big 12, Caleb Love, seemingly hit a key shot each time the Ducks pulled within striking distance. Love finished with a game-high of 29 points while shooting 5-7 from deep and snatching nine rebounds. Junior Tobe Awaka also pulled down 14 rebounds and 12 points.
“I was telling my teammates in the run they had, ‘“That’s the best punches they got,”’ said Wildcats Caleb Love. “Let’s keep chipping away. Let’s keep chopping wood and we’re going to be right there with them.”
“We jumped on them early after halftime. It went a back and forth late in the game,” said Love. “We wanted to be the most poised team, and I think that’s what brought us the win tonight.”
The Wildcats are now 5-2 against the Ducks while extending the series lead over the Ducks 56-38 all-time. They now advance to Arizona’s 22nd Sweet 16 with a win against the Wildcats. The 4 Arizona Wildcats (24-12) will now face 1 Duke Blue Devils (33-3) at the Prudential Center in the next round of the NCAA Tournament. The Florida Gators are coming off beating 16 Norfolk State and 8 University of Connecticut, en route to an eight-game win streak.
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