St. John's Point Guard Dylan Darling Leads Team to Big East Title

Darling scores first 6 points in championship-clinching 13-0 run against UConn

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:20am

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St. John's point guard Dylan Darling struggled with his shot early on, but regained his offensive form at the perfect time, scoring the first 6 points in a 13-0 run that sealed the Johnnies' 72-52 victory over UConn in the Big East Tournament championship game at Madison Square Garden. The win gave St. John's a program-record second straight Big East title under coach Rick Pitino.

Why it matters

Darling's performance highlighted his resilience and ability to bounce back, as he didn't let his early shooting struggles impact his confidence. The win also cemented St. John's status as one of the top programs in the Big East, as they continue to build on their success under Pitino's leadership.

The details

Darling was 1-for-8 from the field at one point, but stuck with it and scored on a drive, hit two free throws, and then a pull-up jumper to push St. John's lead to 16 with 5:09 remaining. UConn had no answer as the Johnnies pulled away for the comfortable victory.

  • St. John's won the Big East Tournament championship on March 14, 2026.
  • The game was played at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The players

Dylan Darling

The St. John's point guard who struggled early but regained his offensive form to lead the Johnnies to the Big East title.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's men's basketball team, who won his 5th Big East Tournament championship, tying him for the most in conference history.

Zuby Ejiofor

The star player for St. John's who was mic'd up during the Big East Tournament for a behind-the-scenes docuseries.

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What they’re saying

“Coach [Rick Pitino] just told me to keep shooting. He believed in me. Down the stretch, they just went in.”

— Dylan Darling, St. John's Point Guard (New York Post)

“It just shows you about him.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (New York Post)

“You can't ask for anything more than this. Madison Square Garden, Saturday night, Big East championship, UConn. It doesn't get any better than this.”

— Dylan Darling, St. John's Point Guard (New York Post)

What’s next

The St. John's men's basketball team will await their NCAA Tournament seeding and matchup, which will be announced on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

Dylan Darling's resilience and ability to regain his offensive form at a crucial moment highlighted the mental toughness of the St. John's squad, which has now won back-to-back Big East Tournament titles under coach Rick Pitino's leadership.