What happened in St. John's vs Kansas?

Dylan Darling sends St. John’s to Sweet 16

St. John’s advanced to the NCAA men’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, surviving a wild comeback by Kansas and finishing the game on a late shot by guard Dylan Darling.

How the game turned

St. John’s had to overcome a major momentum swing. Kansas pushed back after St. John’s allowed a 14-point lead to slip, setting up a finish where both teams traded pressure late.

In the final sequence, Darling delivered the winning moment: he hit a last-second shot to stun Kansas and clinch the Round of 16 result. The outcome erased the earlier collapse from St. John’s perspective—turning what had looked like a blown advantage into a season-extending win.

Why it matters

For St. John’s, the Sweet 16 is a major milestone because it ends a long drought since the program’s previous Sweet 16 appearance in 1999. The win also underscores the stakes of this year’s tournament run: once St. John’s lost control of the lead, it still found a way to respond in the final seconds.

Key points

• Kansas mounted a late rally after St. John’s gave up a double-digit lead.
• Darling scored the game-winner at the buzzer.
• St. John’s punched a ticket to the Sweet 16 after a 1999 absence.

The result is the kind of tournament finish that reshapes the bracket storyline—turning a near collapse into a breakthrough for a program chasing its next deep run.