Darling's layup seals St. John's tournament win over Kansas
ESPN • • general
Key Points:
- Dylan Darling scored the game-winning layup with 3.9 seconds left, securing St. John's 67-65 victory over Kansas and sending the Red Storm to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
- Despite missing his first four shots, Darling confidently called and executed the final play, earning praise from coach Rick Pitino and teammates for his toughness and resilience.
- St. John's, led by Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins, has won 21 of its last 22 games and will face No. 1 seed Duke in the East Region semifinals.
- The victory marked only the second coaching matchup between Hall of Famers Rick Pitino and Bill Self, with Pitino aiming for his third national title.
- St. John's resurgence under Pitino includes winning the Big East regular-season and tournament titles, reestablishing the program as a college basketball contender.
