No. 4 Kansas holds off Cal Baptist's comeback bid

Darryn Peterson scores 28 points as Jayhawks advance to second round

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:10am

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No. 4 seed Kansas built a big lead early but had to hold off a furious second-half rally by No. 13 seed California Baptist to win 68-60 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Darryn Peterson scored 28 points for the Jayhawks, who led by as many as 26 points before Cal Baptist cut the deficit to six in the final minute.

Why it matters

This win keeps Kansas, one of the top teams in the country, alive in the NCAA Tournament as they look to make a deep run. Cal Baptist was making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and nearly pulled off a massive upset, showing the parity in college basketball.

The details

After a slow start, Peterson caught fire and scored 11 straight points to help Kansas build a big lead. Cal Baptist struggled mightily in the first half, shooting just 21.9% from the field. But Dominique Daniels Jr. led a furious second-half comeback, scoring 25 points and cutting the deficit to six in the final minute before Kansas held on.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A key player for Kansas who scored 28 points to lead the Jayhawks to victory.

Dominique Daniels Jr.

The leading scorer for Cal Baptist with 25 points, sparking their second-half comeback effort.

Tre White

Contributed 12 points and 7 assists for Kansas in the win.

Bryson Tiller

Grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks.

Martel Williams

Scored 15 points for Cal Baptist in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.