St. John’s has punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in a quarter-century, thanks to a thrilling final play by Dylan Darling. In Sunday’s second-round NCAA tournament showdown, Darling sank a buzzer-beating layup to secure a 67-65 victory for the No. 5 Red Storm over No. 4 Kansas.
A Tactical Gamble Fails
The game’s climax followed a calculated but unsuccessful strategy by the Jayhawks. After star freshman Darryn Peterson leveled the score with two free throws with only 13 seconds remaining, Kansas attempted to use their remaining foul count to prevent St. John’s from orchestrating a winning play. Because Kansas had committed very few fouls during the half, they were able to commit several intentional fouls without sending St. John’s to the line.
However, the execution faltered. By the time Kansas committed their sixth foul, roughly 3.9 seconds remained—far more time than needed for Darling to penetrate the lane and deliver the decisive basket. Remarkably, this shot marked Darling's first and only points of the entire game. According to historical data from Sports Reference, he is the only player in the history of the NCAA tournament to score his first points of a game on a buzzer-beater.
Overcoming Struggles and Near-Misses
Darling’s heroics rescued St. John’s after a challenging offensive outing where the team shot only 36%. The Red Storm relied heavily on the three-point shot, launching 35 attempts throughout the game, which is uncharacteristic for a squad that typically averages significantly fewer. Leading the way for St. John’s were Big East player of the year Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins, both contributing 18 points apiece.
For Kansas, the loss was a heartbreaker, as they had nearly erased a 14-point second-half deficit. The game was also marked by officiating controversy; with less than three minutes remaining, St. John’s was penalized for an over-and-back violation despite clear evidence that a Kansas player had tipped the ball. Coach Rick Pitino was unable to challenge the ruling, having exhausted his single challenge earlier in the contest.
The Future of Darryn Peterson
This tournament exit likely signals the conclusion of Darryn Peterson’s college tenure. Despite dealing with various injuries and health setbacks throughout the season, the projected 2026 NBA Draft top pick led all scorers with 21 points on Sunday. While Peterson’s consistency was occasionally hampered by his physical condition, he remained the focal point of the Kansas offense. As he looks toward the NBA, he is expected to be a top contender for the No. 1 overall pick alongside talents like Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa.