In a March Madness moment that will live forever in NCAA lore, Dylan Darling scored the game-winning layup as time expired to give No. 5 St. John’s Red Storm a 67-65 victory over No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks in the East Region’s second round on Sunday, propelling St. John’s to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999.
Darling’s dramatic finish was historic in multiple ways: it was his first points of the game, and he became the only player in NCAA tournament history to score his first points of the game on a buzzer-beater. After missing his first four attempts—all from beyond the arc—Darling calmly drove the lane off an inbounds play to deliver the Red Storm’s unforgettable triumph.
The sequence came after Kansas executed a high-stakes intentional foul strategy. With star freshman Darryn Peterson tying the game with two free throws with 13 seconds remaining, the Jayhawks had the opportunity to foul St. John’s four times without sending the Red Storm to the line, thanks to Kansas’ minimal fouls in the second half. But the plan faltered. Kansas committed two quick fouls in two seconds, used its third foul with six seconds left, and its sixth with just 3.9 seconds remaining—leaving just enough time for Darling’s decisive drive.
Kansas nearly completed one of the greatest comebacks in program history. The Jayhawks trailed by 14 points in the second half and had managed to claw back into a tie through Peterson’s clutch free throws. Kansas’ only lead of the game came with 18:09 remaining in the first half. Yet even their furious rally couldn’t withstand Darling’s perfect timing and execution.
The final minutes also saw controversy. With under three minutes to play, St. John’s was called for an over-and-back violation after Kansas’ Melvin Council Jr. tipped a handoff above the 3-point line. Replay suggested St. John’s should have retained possession behind mid-court, but Red Storm coach Rick Pitino had already used his lone challenge earlier in the half on a separate out-of-bounds call.
Despite the twists, the result was historic for St. John’s. The Red Storm are headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 24 years, and Darling’s iconic buzzer-beater will be remembered as one of the tournament’s most improbable and electrifying finishes.
