Colorado State has its one shining moment snatched away in gut-wrenching fashion

Colorado State saw its season end in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable.

6.1 seconds after Jalen Lake put the Rams in front on a three-pointer from the right flank, the Rams saw their dreams of advancing to the Sweet 16 die when Maryland’s Derik Queen hit a running floater as time expired, dooming the Rams to a crushing 72-71 defeat in the second round Sunday night in Seattle.

It was Colorado State’s “One Shining Moment” … until it wasn’t.

CSU was seconds away from ending the state’s 56-year drought of having none of its Division I schools make the men’s Sweet 16. It’s 6.1 seconds that will now live in lament, of a landmark moment snatched away.

Queen’s shot — which came after what some on social media believed to be an uncalled traveling violation — was the final act in a crushing final few moments that saw the Rams gradually succumb to their Big Ten opponents.

“Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t,” CSU coach Niko Medved said of the no-call at the end of the game. “It doesn’t matter; they didn’t call one.”

Colorado State Head Coach Niko Medved when asked if Derik Queen’s buzzer beater was a travel:

“Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. It doesn’t matter, they didn’t call one.” pic.twitter.com/NI2k2kwOR9

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 24, 2025

With a 5-point lead in the final 5 minutes, the Rams couldn’t close the deal.

Leading 64-59, backcourt sloppiness led to a turnover and that seemed to unravel the Rams. CSU allowed Maryland to score 9-straight points to reclaim the lead.

Finally, with a 68-64 deficit, the Rams answered. CSU rallied to tie the score in the final minute on two free throws and a Lake jumper. But after coaxing a missed three-pointer, CSU’s Rashaan Mbemba was called for a foul after locking onto Maryland’s Julian Reese, and Reese hit both free throws with 22.4 seconds remaining.

CSU had a final chance, and called timeout with 11 seconds remaining to set up its last possession in regulation. That led to Clifford’s heroics.

But Maryland had 3.6 seconds to respond, and it succeeded with the kind of last-second shot that will be replayed in March Madness highlight reels for decades rio come.

CSU controlled most of the game’s first 30 minutes,using a 16-2 run to build a 12-point lead 10 minutes into the game.

Then, Terps coach Kevin Willard switched to a 2-3 zone.From that point forward, the Terrapins and their “Crab Five” — a starting lineup responsible for over 79 percent of its scoring, with each starter averaging at least 12 points per game — methodically chipped away at CSU’s lead, trimming it to two points late in the first half.

The Rams pushed their edge back to nine points 90 seconds before intermission and led by seven at the half, but Maryland surged and went in front 6:21 into the second half when Rodney Rice hit a 19-foot jump shot from the left side and was fouled. He hit the subsequent free throw to put the Terps in front, 49-47.

From there, the game wobbled back and forth until CSU pushed in front by five points before the final frenzied minutes.

And with that, the state’s seemingly interminable wait for any of its schools to return to the Sweet 16 will continue for at least one more year.

COLORADO STATE AND ITS ROAD TO THE SECOND ROUND

Colorado State made it to the second round on the strength of a dominant performance Friday, easing past the No. 5 seed Memphis Tigers for a 78-70 win.

It marked the second-consecutive year in which the Rams won at least one postseason game; CSU defeated Virginia in the First Four last year before falling 56-44 to Texas in the first-round of the 2024 tournament.

The Rams qualified for the tournament after throttling Boise State in the Mountain West championship game 69-56. Colorado State used a three-point onslaught to turn back the Broncos that day, going 12-of-23 from beyond the arc.

That game effectively was a play-in contest to make the NCAA Tournament, as Boise State was one of the first four teams out of the field, and CSU’s No. 12 seed meant that it wouldn’t have qualified for the tournament as an at-large entrant.

Colorado State has been in three of the last four NCAA men’s tournaments, representing the school’s most successful stretch in qualification for the tournament since 1963-66.