Maryland freshman Derik Queen leads team to victory over Minnesota

In a thrilling college basketball matchup in the United States, Maryland defeated Minnesota 77-71 on Monday night. Freshman Derik Queen was the standout player, scoring 27 points, with 18 of those points coming in the second half. This performance not only marked a season-high for Queen but also showcased his ability to lead the team during critical moments of the game. Rodney Rice contributed significantly by adding 21 points, while Ja'Kobi Gillespie's timely 3-pointer marked Maryland's first lead since early in the game. Meanwhile, Minnesota struggled with foul trouble, particularly with Dawson Garcia, who led his team with 21 points but had to sit during crucial moments due to fouls. A notable aspect of the game was Maryland's effective offense in the latter part of the match. Maryland managed to capitalize on Minnesota's 11 turnovers by converting them into 11 points. The Terps shot 66% from the field in the second half and went a perfect 21 for 21 from the free-throw line. The Golden Gophers had initially taken a 35-32 lead into halftime, but Maryland's adjustments in the second half allowed them to reclaim and maintain control of the game. Minnesota's efforts to rally fell short as they faced critical turnovers in the final minutes. This victory improved Maryland's overall record to 13-4 and 3-3 in the Big Ten, whereas Minnesota's discouraging loss dropped their record to 8-9 and left them winless in their conference play at 0-6. The defeat marked a difficult outing for Minnesota, while Maryland looks to build momentum as they advance in their upcoming schedule. Maryland's next game is against Northwestern. In a separate contest earlier this week, Maryland's women’s team also secured a victory, beating Minnesota in a high-scoring encounter. Shyanne Sellers' outstanding performance with 27 points realized Maryland's dominance, showcasing their strength as they continued to assert themselves in the Top 25 rankings. The recent wins for Maryland present a promising outlook for both their men's and women's programs as they venture into tougher matches against ranked teams ahead. The experiences gained from these tightly contested games will be crucial as both teams aim for a successful remainder of the season.