Dylan Darling’s buzzer-beater versus Kansas sends St. John’s men’s basketball to first Sweet Sixteen since 1999
· Yahoo Sports
Whistle, whistle, whistle.
Kansas was content to burn its remaining fouls to give, denying Dylan Darling from advancing the ball past the timeline over and over again. This final possession re-told Darling’s frustrating night, who was held scoreless and missed all four of his shot attempts to that point.
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The Red Storm let momentum slip from their fingertips, suddenly transitioning from controlling play with physicality to leaking second-chance opportunities and points at the rim. The Jayhawks neutralized a 14-point second-half Johnnies lead with a 25-11 run capped off with free throws by super freshman Darryn Peterson, leveling the score at 65.
The fourth time down the court was the charm for Darling. With 3.9 seconds remaining, Darling received the inbound pass by Bryce Hopkins at half-court, and instead of setting up for a jumper like he’s done all night, he made a beeline to the basket. The southpaw jetted past Elmarko Jackson and lifted a right-handed finger roll off the corner of the backboard and into the basket as the shot clock expired.
Time stood still inside San Diego’s Viejas Arena. Darling raised his fists on the baseline like a triumphant prize-fighter that took blow after blow before delivering a knockout in the 12th round. Moments later, his teammates mobbed him in delirious celebration. Dylan Darling’s only points of the game were the two most important scored in the last quarter-century years of St. John’s basketball.
For the first time since 1999, St. John’s will play in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Behind Darling’s heroic last-second basket to shut down Kansas’s late rally, the Red Storm pulled off the win in a gnarly defensive battle in which they led for most of Sunday’s contest, but never broke.
Kansas only led for thirty-eight seconds after a pair of Darryn Peterson three-pointers gave them an early 6-3 lead, then St. John’s took command with a 13-1 run to give them a nine-point edge, and they never trailed after that.
The Red Storm’s restless pressure defense was connected all night, holding the Jayhawks to 44.4% from the field, only five made threes, and forcing 16 turnovers, with multiple giveaways coming off inbound passes. Future NBA draft lottery pick Darryn Peterson filled up the scoring column with a team-high 21 points, but St. John’s never let him get comfortable and held him to 5-of-15 shooting from the field.
Facing his former team, Zuby Ejiofor was a handful for Kansas in the paint. He scored a team-high 18 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and gave out four assists. Ejiofor made multiple critical plays in the clutch that were enough to keep the Jayhawks from overtaking the Red Storm, scoring back-to-back buckets to give St. John’s a 62-53 lead with 4:19 remaining, the second of which came off a steal against Darryn Peterson. Both of Ejiofor’s matchups, Flory Bidunga and Paul Mbiya, struggled to stay on their feet defending against Ejiofor, each earning four fouls.
Bryce Hopkins remained red-hot, scoring all 18 of his points off three-pointers and pulling down seven rebounds. His six triples doubled his previous career-high for most threes made in a game.
St. John’s travels back to the East Coast, where they will face the 1-seed Duke Blue Devils (34-2) at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 27. Tip-off time and broadcast information will be announced later.