Gophers men’s basketball coaching search continues, as Niko Medved and Colorado State fall on buzzer-beater in NCAA second round

On Sunday, Medved’s Princeton-style offense confused Maryland early to take a 37-30 halftime advantage. Guard Nique Clifford, an NBA prospect, had 12 of his 21 points in the first half.

In their first-round victory Friday against fifth-seeded Memphis, the Rams trailed 36-31 at halftime, but they rallied to score 47 points in the second half in the 78-70 victory.

The Terrapins, who finished tied for second in the Big Ten regular season, used a 9-0 run to take a 68-64 lead with 2:30 to play in Sunday’s game, but the Rams responded with a 7-2 run. Things looked bleak for Maryland until Queen’s last shot, which appeared to come after he traveled.

“I thought we defended that last play pretty well,” Medved said. “It’s about all we could ask for. And [Queen] made an … unbelievable shot. That’s what happens in March Madness.”

Medved, a former Rams assistant, has not yet addressed the speculation that he might leave Colorado State for the Gophers or any other job. He has a 143-85 record in seven years in Fort Collins.

“Coach Medved is certainly an elite coach,” Rams athletic director John Weber told a Colorado radio station. “When he’s had that level of success, there’s always going to be people that are knocking on your door.”