A Terrapins buzzer beater and the dominance of power conferences wrapped up the first weekend of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
After Colorado State’s Jalen Lake drained a three pointer to put the Rams ahead with six seconds remaining, Maryland’s Derik Queen beat the buzzer in Seattle to push the Big Ten school into the Sweet 16.
BUZZER BEATER IN SEATTLE@TerrapinHoops Freshman Derik Queen is now the King of College Park!
The Terps avoid the upset bid by @CSUMBasketball and advance to the #SWEET16 with a 72-71 buzzer beating victory!
️: Ryan Radtke & P.J. Carlesimo pic.twitter.com/zcozsYzQPB
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 24, 2025
The day began in Raleigh where the two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies were knocked out by one-seed Florida in a thriller.
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Upset avoided #MarchMadness2025
UConn's 13-game tourney win streak comes to an end, @GatorsMBK completes the comeback!@jasonbenetti & @sarahkustok called the 77-75 finish pic.twitter.com/UN7FRUbBCl— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2025
Sunday’s action concluded with a back-and-forth battle between two former conference rivals with Caleb Love powering Arizona to a 4-point win over Oregon.
Caleb Love scored a game-high 29 points, including a pair on this late dunk, as @ArizonaMBB held off Oregon in Seattle, 87-83.
️: Ryan Radtke#BearDown | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nDKWmTZJko
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 24, 2025
Leading by as many as 25 in the second half, Duke advanced to its second consecutive Sweet 16 with an 89-66 win over Baylor.
" " #MarchMadness
The @DukeMBB star hit 7 triples in the 89-66 W vs Baylor
Top seed Duke moves on to the #Sweet16!
️: @jasonbenetti & @sarahkustok pic.twitter.com/iFIkDckTjq— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2025
Sixth-seeded Ole Miss continued a strong second round for the SEC with a 91-78 thrashing of 3-seed Iowa State.
" !"@OleMissMBB is headed to the #Sweet16 for the first time since 2001 after a 91-78 win over Iowa State.#HottyToddy shot 58% from the floor with 5⃣ double figure scorers, including 11 from Murray.
️: @NoahEagle15 pic.twitter.com/KE1SsNgCEp
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 24, 2025
2-seed Alabama looked good in an 80-66 handling of Saint Mary’s in Cleveland.
# @AlabamaMBB is headed back to the #Sweet16 after a dominant 80-66 win over Saint Mary's.
Clifford Omoruyi had a double-double highlighted by this THUNDEROUS jam in Cleveland.
️: @ScottWipeOut & @JonCrispinESPN pic.twitter.com/dkIQYMtojK
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 24, 2025
Kentucky used a 10-0 run early in the second half and a 7-1 spurt late to edge Illinois, 84-75.
@KentuckyMBB
Brea's 23 leads the Wildcats to the #Sweet16!
3-seed UK wins 84-75 #MarchMadness
️: @NoahEagle15 & @TomCrean pic.twitter.com/g8DNz9nYMl— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2025
Earning 28 free throw attempts, Michigan State separated itself late from New Mexico and advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 71-63 win in Cleveland.
SPARTY TO THE #SWEET16
Jase Richardson's only made basket of the night came with just ⏰49 seconds left, but it helped @MSU_Basketball secure a 71-63 win over @UNMLoboMBB
️: @ScottWipeout & @JonCrispinESPN pic.twitter.com/MeXYmnUgwV
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 24, 2025
The Sweet 16 tips off on Thursday with Westwood One’s coverage beginning at 6pm eastern time.