St. John's Player Hits Buzzer-Beater in March Madness Thriller

Dylan Darling's last-second shot caps off thrilling comeback win for St. John's in NCAA Tournament

Mar. 23, 2026 at 11:52am

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In a dramatic finish to a March Madness game, St. John's guard Dylan Darling hit a buzzer-beating shot to lift his team to victory. Despite struggling offensively for most of the game, Darling stepped up in the final possession to deliver an indelible March Madness moment for the St. John's program.

Why it matters

St. John's has long been seeking a signature March Madness moment to help elevate the program's national profile. Darling's heroics provide that, sparking excitement around the team and potentially boosting recruiting and fan engagement going forward.

The details

With the game tied in the final seconds, St. John's opted to put the ball in the hands of Darling rather than the team's leading scorer, Zuby Ejiofor, or top performer Bryce Hopkins. Darling drove to the hoop and banked in the game-winning shot at the buzzer, capping off a thrilling comeback victory for the Red Storm.

  • The game-winning shot occurred as time expired in the NCAA Tournament contest on March 23, 2026.

The players

Dylan Darling

A St. John's guard who hit the game-winning buzzer-beater shot to lift his team to victory in the NCAA Tournament.

Zuby Ejiofor

The senior leader of the St. John's team, who deserved to have the ball in his hands for the final shot but deferred to Darling.

Bryce Hopkins

The best player on the floor for St. John's, who had a career-high six 3-pointers in the game but did not take the final shot.

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What they’re saying

“That was the perfect March Madness moment we've been waiting for from St. John's. Darling's shot will be remembered for years to come.”

— Mark W. Sanchez, Sports Writer

What’s next

St. John's will advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face a higher-seeded opponent.

The takeaway

St. John's basketball program has long sought a signature March Madness moment, and Dylan Darling's buzzer-beating heroics have now provided that. This thrilling victory could help elevate the team's national profile and build excitement around the program going forward.