St. John's Stuns Kansas 67-65 on Darling Buzzer-Beater

One of the most electrifying moments in the 2026 NCAA Tournament came Sunday in San Diego, when St. John's Red Storm guard Dylan Darling drove the lane and laid the ball in with just three seconds remaining — stunning the Kansas Jayhawks 67-65 and sending the Red Storm to their first Sweet 16 since 1999. If you're a college basketball fan, a March Madness bettor, or simply someone who loves sport at its most dramatic, this game had everything: a late tie, a buzzer-beater, a future NBA lottery pick outdueled by a gritty mid-major underdog, and a New York program reclaiming its national relevance. Below, we break down the key storylines, standout performers, and everything you need to know about this instant classic.

Game Overview: St. John's 67, Kansas 65 — The Buzzer-Beater That Shocked March Madness

St. John's entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament East Region second round as the No. 5 seed, facing a No. 4 seed Kansas team loaded with NBA-caliber talent and tournament pedigree. The Jayhawks were widely favored, particularly given the presence of Darryn Peterson, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But college basketball — and especially March Madness — rarely follows the script.

The game came down to the final seconds. Kansas tied it at 65, setting the stage for a chaotic, heart-stopping final possession. St. John's ran the clock, found Darling in space, and the sophomore guard sliced through the Kansas defense for a driving layup that fell through the net as time expired. Final score: St. John's 67, Kansas 65. St. John's first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999 was complete.

Dylan Darling: The Hero of the Hour

Key Features of His Performance

• Hit the game-winning driving layup with three seconds remaining
• Showed composure under maximum pressure in a high-stakes NCAA Tournament game
• Drove through a collapsing Kansas defense to convert the most important basket of St. John's season

Pros

• Clutch performance when it mattered most — a true pressure-moment player
• Demonstrated elite decision-making on the final possession
• Will be remembered as a March Madness legend at St. John's for years to come

Cons

• St. John's will need Darling to replicate this level of play deep into the tournament if they hope to make a run
• Kansas defenders will argue the final call — replays will be debated for days

Verdict: Darling's buzzer-beater is already being called one of the plays of the 2026 tournament. Read the full breakdown of Darling's game-winning layup here.

Zuby Ejiofor: The Unsung Engine of St. John's Victory

Key Features of His Performance

• 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists — a complete all-around performance
• Dominated the interior against a Kansas frontcourt with significant size and athleticism
• Combined scoring and playmaking as a true modern big man

Pros

• Nearly a double-double while also facilitating offense — rare for a college big
• Kept St. John's competitive when Kansas threatened to pull away
• His production gives St. John's a credible inside threat going into the Sweet 16

Cons

• Will face even larger frontcourt challenges in subsequent rounds
• Foul trouble could be a concern against elite opponents

Verdict: Ejiofor was the backbone of St. John's performance, and his stat line rivals any big man in the tournament. Check the full St. John's vs. Kansas box score to see how his numbers stacked up against the rest of the field.

Darryn Peterson: Kansas' Brilliant — But Not Enough — Star

Key Features of His Performance

• Led all scorers with 21 points
• Projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
• Showcased the individual brilliance that has made him college basketball's most hyped prospect

Pros

• His 21-point effort kept Kansas competitive throughout — without him, this game isn't close
• Demonstrated NBA-level shot creation and scoring instincts
• Even in a losing effort, Peterson cemented his draft stock with a strong tournament showing

Cons

• Despite his heroics, Kansas could not hold the late lead and surrendered the buzzer-beater
• Tournament exits are painful regardless of individual performance
• Kansas as a team couldn't match St. John's collective resilience when it mattered most

Verdict: Peterson is going to be a top NBA Draft pick regardless of this outcome. His 21-point game in a one-possession thriller is a testament to his talent, even if Kansas goes home early.

Kansas Jayhawks: Tournament Exit and What Went Wrong

Key Features of Their 2026 NCAA Run

• Entered as the No. 4 seed in the East Region — a team with Final Four expectations
• Had the tournament's most celebrated individual player in Darryn Peterson
• Tied the game at 65 in the closing seconds, showing fight until the final buzzer

Pros

• Kansas never quit — tying the game late showed championship character
• Peterson's star power gives the program elite recruiting leverage heading into 2026-27
• A second-round exit doesn't erase what was likely an excellent regular season

Cons

• Allowed a game-winning layup on the final defensive possession — a coaching and defensive breakdown
• Could not contain St. John's inside game, allowing Ejiofor to go for 18-9-4
• Early exit will fuel recruiting and program-direction questions through the offseason

Verdict: Kansas will be back. But this loss — especially losing at the buzzer — will sting for a long time in Lawrence. Pre-game odds and model predictions had Kansas as the favorite — making this result one of March Madness' signature upsets.

St. John's Sweet 16 Implications: A Warning to the East Region

Key Features of Their Tournament Profile

• First Sweet 16 appearance since 1999 — a massive milestone for a New York City program
• Proven ability to win close games with clutch shots
• A balanced roster with an interior anchor (Ejiofor) and a perimeter closer (Darling)

Pros

• The Red Storm have momentum, confidence, and the belief that comes from pulling off a buzzer-beater upset
• Playing loose as an underdog — no expectations, all upside
• St. John's proved it can compete with elite programs on college basketball's biggest stage

Cons

• The East Region likely features even tougher opponents in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight
• Sustaining this level of clutch play for two or three more games is a tall order

Verdict: Don't sleep on St. John's. Even coaching legend Stan Van Gundy is warning Duke to take the Red Storm seriously after this performance.

Comparison Summary: St. John's vs. Kansas — How They Stack Up

FAQ: St. John's vs. Kansas — 2026 NCAA Tournament

Who hit the buzzer-beater to win the game?

Dylan Darling of St. John's hit a driving layup with three seconds remaining to give the Red Storm a 67-65 victory over Kansas. The shot came after Kansas had tied the game at 65 in the closing moments, setting up one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 tournament.

Who was the best player in the St. John's vs. Kansas game?

Kansas' Darryn Peterson led all scorers with 21 points and put in a brilliant individual performance, but St. John's Zuby Ejiofor's line of 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists was arguably the most complete performance of the game. And of course, Dylan Darling's game-winning layup earns him the biggest moment of the night.

When is St. John's next game in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?

St. John's advances to the Sweet 16 in the East Region following the win over Kansas on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Their next opponent and game date will be determined by the East Region bracket. More details on St. John's Sweet 16 berth here.

Why is this win so significant for St. John's?

St. John's had not appeared in the Sweet 16 since 1999 — a 27-year drought for one of college basketball's storied New York City programs. This victory over a prominent Kansas program, on a buzzer-beater no less, signals a genuine resurgence for the Red Storm and re-establishes their national credibility.

March Madness Fan Guide: How to Follow St. John's Deep Run

• Watch every possession: This St. John's team wins close games. Expect more nail-biters in the Sweet 16 and beyond — don't turn the game off early.
• Track Zuby Ejiofor's matchups: How opposing teams defend the St. John's big man will shape every game going forward. If he's getting his 18+ points and 9+ rebounds, the Red Storm are dangerous.
• Follow Dylan Darling's usage: Coaches will now game-plan around Darling as a late-clock option. Watch how St. John's uses him in crunch time as opponents scheme to take him away.
• Monitor Darryn Peterson's draft buzz: Even in defeat, Peterson's 21-point effort adds to his legacy as the projected No. 1 pick. Watch for pre-draft commentary and workouts as the tournament continues without him.
• Keep an eye on bracket implications: St. John's is now a legitimate dark horse. The No. 5 seed with nothing to lose and a buzzer-beater in their pocket is exactly the kind of team that makes deep runs.
• Use verified sources: For live scores, box scores, and official tournament updates, stick to Yahoo Sports' official box score and NCAA.com for bracket tracking.

"St. John's is for real. Duke better take notice." — Stan Van Gundy, reacting to the Red Storm's buzzer-beater win over Kansas in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Full quote here.

Dylan Darling's layup will be replayed on highlight reels for years. St. John's Red Storm are no longer a sentimental story — they're a genuine Sweet 16 threat, and the rest of the East Region has been warned.