UMBC Falls To Kansas State In NCAA Tournament

CHARLOTTE, NC — The UMBC Retrievers and the Kansas State Wildcats battled to stay in the NCAA tournament Sunday night. The Wildcats won, 50-43, knocking the Maryland team out of further play.

The game came two days after UMBC stunned the nation by beating No. 1 seed Virginia, 74-54, in round one.

During Sunday's matchup between the Retrievers and the Wildcats, the score was 25-20 at the half, with Kansas State in the lead. The Retrievers fought to the end, scoring two points at the buzzer.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was among those issuing congratulations to the team on making it into March madness; when they entered the NCAA tournament, the Retrievers were the No. 16 seed.

We are still believers in the #Retrievers! Could not B'more proud of @UMBC_MBB! @UMBCAthletics #RetrieverNation #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/OBhaDy4RGg
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) March 19, 2018

Baltimore County Public Schools and county government officials also tweeted out their pride:

Regardless of the final score on Sunday, Marylanders won free pizza from Little Ceasars. Anyone who goes to a participating restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time on Monday, April 2, and mentions the offer will get a free lunch combo. The lunch combo consists of a four-slice, deep-dish pepperoni pizza and a Pepsi product of your choice.

• UMBC's NCAA Upset Means Free Pizza For Everyone In Maryland
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After the win over Virginia on Friday, UMBC was heralded as having its own Cinderella story. It also gained national attention for its hilarious tweets.

UMBC alumnus Zach Seidel, the man behind the UMBC Athletics Twitter handle, said he was surprised when outlets like ESPN wanted post-game interviews from him after Friday's win.

Frustration fueled some of his sardonic tweets, he said, such as those toward CBS analyst Seth Davis, who tweeted at the start of Friday's first-round game that he was marking Virginia as the winner with Sharpie.

After the game, Davis said he was sorry on camera, stating: "I want to give my sincere apologies to the University of Maryland Baltimore County...I have egg on my face."

An unapologetic Seidel told SLAM magazine: "...if you come at us, we're going to have a little fun with you."

The sass continued on Twitter on Sunday.

During an exchange between UMBC and Kansas State's Twitter accounts Sunday afternoon alluding to their date in Charlotte that evening, the Retrievers said: "We'd love it if you wore something white and sleeveless."

The two met for their date at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was broadcast on TruTv. Some traveled out of town for the game.

There were also many rooting for the Retrievers back home.

UMBC hosted a watch party at 7:30 p.m. in The Commons Sports Zone on campus, and there were various other events around the area as well.

And when the players returned to campus early Monday morning, a group gathered to greet them:

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: K.J. Maura #11 of the UMBC Retrievers looks to pass against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)