SAN DIEGO (AP) – Kansas overcame a 14-point second half deficit to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining, before St. John’s hit a driving layup as time expired as Kansas fell to St. John’s, 67-65, in the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Darling scored the game-winning bucket for St. John’s on a drive as time expired to advance St. John’s to its first Sweet Sixteen since 1999. Kansas’ season ends at 24-11 after erasing a 66-42 deficit with 8:08 remaining in the game.
Freshman Darryn Peterson led Kansas with 21 points, including a pair of clutch free throws to tie the game with 13.1 seconds remaining. After hitting both free throws, the Jayhawks had four fouls to give, and they used all four to wind the clock down to 3.9 seconds. That was plenty of time for Darling, the Idaho State transfer who had missed his four previous shots in the game.
Darling got the ball up top and drove the lane for a shot that banked in as time expired. His teammates tackled him in front of the St. John’s band in celebration.
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.
St. John’s advanced to face No. 1 overall seed Duke in the East Region semifinals in Washington.
Pitino and Self coached against each other for only the second time in the Hall of Famers’ decades-long careers, meeting for the first time in March Madness. They’re two of the three active coaches with multiple national titles.
St. John’s has won 21 of its last 22 games since early January, capped by the Johnnies’ second and third NCAA Tournament victories in the past quarter-century this weekend. St. John’s won the Big East regular-season and tournament titles during its surge.
Along with Peterson’s 21 points, senior Melvin Council poured in 15 points and 9 rebounds, while sophomore Flory Bidunga scored 12 points and recorded 3 blocks.
