Dylan Darling hit a driving layup as time expired for his only bucket of the game, and St. John’s blew a 13-point lead in the final minutes before advancing to its first Sweet 16 since 1999 with a 67-65 victory over Kansas.

 

Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins scored 18 points apiece for the fifth-seeded Red Storm (30-6), who have roared back to college basketball prominence in just three seasons under coach Rick Pitino. Darling coolly won it after Kansas erased its 58-45 deficit with 7 1/2 minutes to play, making a furious 20-7 run capped by Darryn Peterson’s two free throws to tie it with 13.1 seconds left.

 

Peterson scored 21 points and Melvin Council Jr. had 15 points and nine rebounds for the fourth-seeded Jayhawks, who still haven’t returned to the Sweet 16 since they claimed Self’s second national title in 2022.

 

After Kansas ended Arizona’s unbeaten season in a landmark victory on Feb. 9, the Jayhawks subsequently lost six of their final 11 games.

 

Bill Self, 63-year-old Jayhawks head coach, is noncommittal about whether he will return for the 2026-27 season.